Reindeer Run 2008

Last year I set a PR at the Reindeer Run 5k. The course starts at the YMCA, goes straight uphill to the hospital (convenient, no?) and then goes in a big square back. I ran it in 24:42. It was a beautiful thing, and I'll probably never come close to beating it. And it probably set me up for the leg pain I had during the full marathon, but whatever...

I was a little worried about running it this year. Obviously I wouldn't get close to my PR, which I can accept, but still... Then I decided to pressure my mom into running with me since she had only done one 5k before. Even though this is a low key race (as in no race numbers and you have to remember your time), any race experience is good for preparing for the half.

So, we ran uphill and in a big square. My mom hit the BMZ (Bite Me Zone) around mile 1, then got a little better around 2, and fluctuated until the end... We stuck around for the awards. Turns out even with a 38:xx minute run, we won age group awards! So, while my time was a little different, another age group ornament from the Reindeer Run.



Most importantly, we ran the entire 5k well within sweeping time of the Half!

Savannah Bridge Run

Why do I keep signing up for Bridge Runs? Seriously, I train on flat ground and I'm scared of bridges...

Ted kept saying we needed to visit some relatives in Savannah, which I thought was a good idea. Being completely compulsive, I did a little race research for Savannah. Lo and behold, we just happened to decide to visit on the weekend of the Savannah Enmark Bridge Run. There was a 5k or 10k- you could do both for a 15k, called the double pump. I decided to go with the double pump because I can't help myself (and I found it very amusing what with my new pumping lifestyle).

After driving miles and miles looking for the damn bridge, we checked into the Westin by the start line. There are actually so many of us now that I brought an air mattress. There's a good look!

I got up early and got dressed. The temperature was 40 degrees, which caused me some concern since I'm a cold-weather weenie. I went with shorts, t-shirt, vest, and gloves. I'm never going anywhere without gloves again!

I walked to the start at the base of the bridge. Ironic that we'd been circling for at least an hour trying to find the bridge the night before, and I was going to be crossing it three times. I people watched for awhile. They made an announcement that a bus was running late, so I drifted up to the start just to have something to do (and to see if there were more people dressed as Santas, elves, pirates, etc). I thought I'd take a picture of the start. A random spectator saw me, grabbed my camera, and insisted I stand at the start for a picture. Can you say mortifying?!



So, here's my official picture. I'm glad he did it, because when you wear a black vest with black gloves, you look like you don't have hands in the official race pictures.

The 5k was hard, the 10k harder. It was a whole lot of bridge, so a whole lot of up. I don't remember my times, but for the double pump I was in front of maybe 12 people out of 300 something. I fell somewhere in the middle of the pack for the 5k but they didn't report my times as just a 5k runner (somewhere around 35 minutes).

This sign made me laugh. Crap. You can't see the sign. Technical difficulties.

You got a t-shirt, towel, and special plastic glass for the double pump. My towel looks stupid on my medal rod. It was a really inexpensive race, but I would have gladly paid another $10 for a medal.

I might consider this race in the future, but the bridge thing is really getting old. How about a nice flat race?! Plus, Ted's relatives all saw my times listed in the paper with a 77 year old man beating me soundly. I'd explain that only the truly insane and not recently pregnant did the double pump, but that's kind of pathetic...

I was also the only person with a camera. What's up with that?!