Polar Bear 5k (2010 Run 11)

Date: 2/24/10
Time of Day: 6:00 AM
Location: Belmont University

Conditions: 26 degrees F, cloudy (when the sun came up)
Music: Random Running Music

Clothing: Jacket, short sleeved wicking shirt, lined compression tights, shorts

Shoes: Nike Air Pegasus 26+

 

For homecoming week, my alma mater - Belmont University - had their own 5k...dubbed the "Polar Bear 5k".

 

Unlike pretty much any 5k I've ever done...it was run on the morning of a workday...although it was run extremely early.

 

I met my friend Mandi and we headed over, found the runners and realized that despite still being in our 20s...we were the oldest people there. In fact, we may have been the only alumni there.

 

It was cold. And early.

 

Mandi and I moseyed to the back of the pack of about 80 so that we would be out of the way of the ones that were running the whole route. I knew this would be a hilly course, so my plan was the same as my Fangtastic 5k plan. I would run the downhills and walk the uphills.

 

The course started out relatively flatly and I ran for the first 6 minutes until it cut off of Belmont Boulevard and onto a side street.

 

Then the uphill climb began. For the next 20 minutes, the course went continuously uphill through streets that were not exactly blocked.

 

Finally, after what seemed like hours...I hit a downhill...and it was a BIG downhill.

 

I started running and actually CAUGHT Mandi (who had been walking for a portion...but she generally walks faster than I run, so this was an accomplishment for me).

 

We turned left and started walking. For the remainder of the course, we would pick landmarks and run to them and then walk again.

 

At one point, however, we noticed that the entire pack was cutting left onto a side street...and had not been directed to do so. Neither Mandi nor I thought this was right (I would have finished in about 32 minutes had that been the case), so we pushed on without turning. Sure enough, we got to a couple of students telling us to turn left. I'm fairly certain that we were the ONLY two people out of the whole field who had run the correct course.

 

We came to the unmarked finish line and decided to hit it running...which we did...in 44:18 according to their time...which according to my body means that it was not a full 5k.

 

Nevertheless, we both claim it as a victory...as we are confident that were the only ones to run the route correctly.

 

11 down. 199 to go.

Shorts in February (2010 Run 10)

Date: 2/20/10
Time of Day: 12:00 PM
Location: Crockett Park

Conditions: 60 degrees F, sunny
Music: Random Running Music

Clothing: short sleeved wicking shirt, compression shorts, shorts

Shoes: Nike Air Pegasus 26+

 

Less than a day after my speed drill, I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous and unseasonably warm day in Nashville.

 

It was sunny, it was comfortable...it was running weather.

 

Near my apartment, there is a park named Crockett Park. It features a variety of trails...and is right next to the campus of the middle school where I won my only career wrestling match (it was by forfeit, but a win is a win).

 

I put the top down on my convertible and headed over to do a little run. I had no idea what sort of terrain I was getting into, so I didn't really head in with any true goals.

 

After looking around for a minute, I found a trail and hopped on it. This trail ran into some woods and near a frisbee golf course. I came to a bridge and decided to start running...and when I got to the other side, I was in a giant open field.

 

I was able to push out about 4 minutes of running before the previous night's speedwork got to me, so I walked for another 4-5 minutes or so and started running again.

 

This time the trail took me around some soccer fields and past a guy running with the absolute goofiest pose I've ever seen (I fear that it was the POSE method or Chi Running...both of which I've been curious about...but if I look that goofy, I don't have the confidence to do it). I started to loop back around and then decided to walk for a minute.

 

This time I had covered 8 minutes. After a little more walking, I ran one more time and re-entered the loop I was in.

 

The last run I pushed for 12 minutes, giving me 24 minutes total run time. And 3 runs in a week for the first time in a very, very long time. It's a trail I will definitely try again.

 

10 down. 200 to go.

Moving Indoors (2010 Run 9)

Date: 2/19/10
Time of Day: 10:30 PM
Location: Apartment gym

Conditions: 71 degrees of climate controlled goodness
Music: Winter Olympics

Clothing: Short sleeved wicking shirt, compression shorts, shorts

Shoes: Nike Air Pegasus 26+

 

I decided to try something different. On a whim, I wanted to see how fast I could run.

 

Thus, I abandoned any usual training (not that my training had been remotely usual or routine) that I had been doing and went indoors.

 

I switched on the Olympics and tried to run a 10 minute mile. I knew it was going to be hard and I'd probably be very panty by the time I was done, but I tried it.

 

The first 10 seconds or so went well...and then I started to feel it. It was actually a little scarier than I had anticipated. While I was able to keep the pace, I did start to worry as I sped the treadmill up that my legs would not be able to keep up with the machinery and I would be zoomed off the back. Luckily, that didn't happen. What did happen was every muscle in my body started to ache as I was clearly pushing waaaaay into the anaerobic zone. I was able to make 2 minutes before I couldn't go a step further...so I backed it back down to a walk.

 

Then I decided, we'll just do Week 1 Day 1 at essentially a sprint. Work in some speed drills. I was able to complete 4 reps before I really, really started hurting.

 

In the end, I only ran for 6 minutes, but I ran at a pace that was about 120 percent of my usual pace...it was a speed drill. And I was definitely exhausted.

 

9 down. 201 to go.