In 1992, the inaugural year of the Get to the 'Point 5K, I was a year too young to participate but cheered on neighbors and joined the awards ceremony in a bar under my grammar school. In 1993, I won the bronze in a children's dash. In 1998, I walked the entire route in under 50 minutes. Last year in 80-degree weather, I ran my first-ever mile without stopping and finished in 32:47. This October, I signed up for four 5Ks (two of them back-to-back). Even at my athletic peak from 2009 to 2010, I never considered running and directly credit my increased aerobic capacity to the twice-a-week Insanity-like workout Beastaneitics.
I'm not going to copy and paste my glowing Yelp review but rather want to summarize the events that I've participated in.
Sunday, October 9, 2011: Get to the 'Point 5K (32:47)
As I mentioned earlier, the weather was unseasonably warm for an October afternoon. A challenging run, but I didn't feel like I went in over my head.
Saturday, October 29, 2011: Ho-boo-ken 5K (31:33)
Call me crazy, but I loved this one. I work in Hoboken and left my bags with my building's security. It was raining when the race began and only got wetter, windier, and chillier as the crowd ran up Frank Sinatra Drive along the promenade, made a u-turn, and returned to Pier A. Costumed runners -- many black swans -- lined up according to pace, so I stuck it out for two miles with the ten-minute milers, then had to walk. Everyone looked miserable at the finish line, but I purchased the photo of me crossing for my mom. Made it back to Greenpoint in two layers of drenched clothing to discover the rain turned to snow. My colleague called me "a veritable walking icicle." Indeed!
Sunday, November 13, 2011: Prospect Park Duathlon (1:39:00)
First 2-mile run: 17:41 (When did I get so fast?)
First transition: 0:53
Ten-mile bike ride: 57:20 (Participants were supposed to go three loops around Prospect Park, yet after my second I was told to leave my bike in the pen. Therefore, this time is not accurate because I asked for clarification, left the pen, and did the last loop.)
Second transition: 3:05 (I took off my sweatshirt and had to re-attach the bib.)
Second 2-mile run: 20:02
Final time: 1:39:00
Saturday, April 28, 2012: WCS Run for the Wild/Make tracks for lions (32:00)
Thanks to the MTA, I was almost late for the 5K. I warmed up by running from the subway and through part of the Bronx Zoo to the starting line and had no time to check my bag. We ran by giraffes, zebras, and flamingos. Thankfully, the trains behaved themselves on the way back to Brooklyn, and -- even better -- I had nary a sore muscle the following morning.
It was my first post-surgery 5K; I had had two foot surgeries (on the same foot) in late 2011 and was worried I'd get hurt.
Saturday, August 25, 2012: Color Run (29:45)
A 5K based on the Indian holiday Holi. Participants are pelted with powdered paint after every kilometer, and I was fortunate enough to convince my high-school friend Ashley to run. We customized our shirts with our team name, "Thermos of Christ," the night before, and she expertly drove as I expertly navigated us to Floyd Bennett Field. Not only did we have a blast, but it was my quickest time until this weekend. Since the race was measured in kilometers instead of miles, I think I had a better gauge of my energy. Also, at some point I checked my time and thought You've got ten minutes of running left. Easy!, when in fact I had less than ten.
Saturday, October 6, 2012: WCS Run for the Wild/Make waves for walruses (32:20)
This 5K on the Coney Island Boardwalk didn't go so well. I can't pinpoint exactly what went "wrong." I had the fortune to warm up and start the race with two friends, but the boardwalk and rising sun were unforgiving: after running a mile, I walked and sporadically ran until gunning it for the last eight blocks just to get it over with. Oh, and just for the heck of it I took a "happy healthy hips" yoga workshop in the late afternoon. Figured the stretching couldn't hurt.
Sunday, October 7, 2012: Andrew Harvey Memorial 5K Fun Run (29:35)
This 5K (a day after the one at Coney Island) was a whole 'nother story. I made sure to caffeinate and take some preventative Advil, since I had not done either the previous day. Two guys who looked like they could do the race in their sleep said the route was three one-mile loops up a hill and one lap around the school's track. I started to worry but once the race began, I felt really good. Did two full loops around the hill before walking a few blocks to fix my capris (wedgie), then kept running and didn't stop until the finish line, completing my fastest 5K yet! Oh, and I found out later that I had won a medal, but I left prematurely once a husband-and-wife right-to-life team started making a speech. (It's a Catholic high school.)
My upcoming 5Ks for the remainder of October are the Get to the 'Point on Sunday, October 14, and the Ho-boo-ken on Saturday, October 27. I'll be running with the Beasts again for the former and decided to dress up as a gymnast for the latter (leotard, nude tights, and the medal from the Andrew Harvey Memorial Fun Run). I'll add short summaries when they're finished.
Monday, October 08, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
