Cruel Summer

After the Detroit run I focused on my training.  There were many speed workouts, tempo runs, and long runs to get in before my marathon.  I still had to run a race each month so my coach could adjust my plan accordingly.  I decided to stick with the 5 Dollar 5k in July a my race since I wanted the points and it was cheap.

It turns out that July would not be a kind month.  The heat and humidity started to skyrocket.  A drought began despite the fact that the air seemed to be made of water.  Some of our speed work had to be cut short, tempo runs were broken into smaller pieces, and even running before dawn resulted in being drenched afterwards.  I still tried to stick with my plan the best I could.  My foot was doing well and I figured that training in the heat would make a cool fall marathon much easier.

5 Dollar 5k Logo

The day of the 5k arrived.  Just like all the other 5ks in the 5 Dollar series, this race was held at 6pm on a Thursday night.  Unlike the other races in the series we had a heat index near 100 degrees with a heat advisory and the course was on the edge of a soccer field and through trails.  I don't like trails...  Trails eat my energy and make me feel like I'm going to trip, constantly.

I ran my warm up, 2 miles before the race started, and afterwards I was already soaked and stinky.  That was not a good sign.  Another problem was that another member of my age group, who tends to be faster than me, decided to run this race.  I see her as a bit of a rival, she doesn't care, but if it helps me she doesn't mind me seeing her that way.  This meant points would not be easy at this race.

We started the race and I kept up with my rival, in fact she kept encouraging me to keep up with her, through about the first mile.  Thankfully the trail was a bit cooler than the outside area where I warmed up.  Usually shaded areas are cooler, but more humid.  Apparently the humidity was so high it couldn't get any higher inside the woods so we just got the benefit of the shade.  Despite losing my rival early on I kept pushing myself.  I wanted to do well for my coach and my plan.  The course was a double loop and I really wanted to stop for the water at the finish line.  Luckily I wasn't lapped by any runners but I really didn't want to run that second loop.  I kept going and finished 2nd in my age group with a trail run PR of 28:56.  It didn't really help my training but I completed the race strong.  It did start raining, just after everyone finished the race.

Rhonda and I finishing Tawawa Park 5k Scholarship Run

The next race I ran wasn't planned.  The last two years I had training buddies who were about my pace and training for the same distance race at about the same time.  This was great because we could do all our long runs together.  We had safety in numbers and could help each other though the tough spots.  This year I didn't have anyone like that.  I kept floating from running buddy to running buddy trying to find people to cover large chunks of my long runs with me.  One Saturday I ran with my friends Tammy and Nancy with their Sidney group in Tawawa Park.  All of us were covering different distances but we could have company for a lot of our miles.  After the first loop we lost 1 runner, she was done, so we went from 6 ladies to 5.  The next loop finish signaled the end for 2 more runners.  Nancy needed to go soon so we ran a partial loop together, which she had to cut short.  The last runner and I finished that loop together.  That left me with 11.7 miles out of 18.  When I found myself alone I came across a 5k that was about to start in the park.  I figured, why not join the race.  It would make the miles more entertaining and I could run with Rhonda, whom I hadn't seen since June.  So I joined the race.  I ran with Rhonda, not worrying about time and I kept a good pace.  It turns out that the time we kept was good enough for 3rd in my age group.  I stuck around for the medal then finished the rest of my 18 miles.  The weather was great and even though I had to do that loop 5 times, I found a way to enjoy it and I came home with a medal.

The last race of my summer was during the 1st week back to school.  I needed a 10k for my plan so, with the guidance of my coach, I decided to run the Germanfest Picnic 10k.  This was another evening race and it was the first week of August, I should have known better.  We had another heat advisory with extreme humidity.  It was so bad that the school cross country team had to cancel practice.  I also forgot to bring extra food to school.  All I had to eat for a day of teaching and a race was oatmeal, a Lean Cuisine Pizza, and some Rice-a-Roni.  This was going to be a tough one.

Door Prizes are nice

There were 40 people running the 10k and many more running the 5k.  This race had a very unique start.  Both the 5k and 10k started at the same starting line, but the 10k started by heading East while the 5k started heading West.  The 10k was on the bike path along the road and the 5k started on the road and moved to the bike path.  The 10k turned around after 1 mile, went past the start and out another 2 miles.  It made for an interesting race.  I started the race slowly, knowing the heat would drain me quickly.  Many runners passed me in the first mile but after that, I started passing them.  It seemed that everyone had to take walking breaks because once I passed quite a few people, I wasn't being passed even when talking a walk break.  The course did not have much shade and the cross country boys running one of the water stations were throwing it at each other rather than serving it to us.  I used my best teacher voice to scold them due to the heat.  When I got to the 2nd water stop I told those boys, who were much more helpful, about the group at the 1st station and they sent someone to help them clean up their act.  By the time I made it back to that water stop one of the boys met me with a glass of ice water.  It was very nice water.  I finished the race the best that I could but it was one of my worst finish times, 1:00:47.  I went back out for my cool down and I could barely keep moving.  On my way back in a runner finishing the 10k caught up with me.  I decided that I was going to run her in.  We could keep each other motivated and moving.  I cheered for her, stayed along side of her, and helped her cross the finish line.  We were both grateful for the company and motivation.

Germanfest Picnic Medal, it's a silver stein

I went to the medal ceremony without expecting much.  This was tough for everyone but I was also tough on myself.  I didn't know where I was going so I asked another runner.  We walked together and it turns out that she is the mother of one of the students I coached in track 5 years ago.  We had a great conversation and we both placed 2nd in our age groups.  I also won a door prize, 2 tickets to a Dayton Flyers game.

While these summer months were not conducive for PRs I had some interesting race experiences and I got to collect a few more medals.  I don't know that I would run Germanfest Picnic or the Tawawa Scholarship run again but they were enjoyable for many different reasons and helped me meet goals when I needed to meet goals.  I do think my boys would enjoy the picnic though, lots of yummy treats.