Bruises + Bandages 5K
Busy day! Not just one event, but two! First I ran in the inaugural Bruises + Bandages 5K, second in the Women's only tri series produced by Trailhead Running.
It was an out and back starting from Russell Park on the north shore of Lake Georgetown. I did an 11 mile fun run with THR in December, so I knew exactly what to expect. First mile - skull rock, downhill. Second mile - out and back on flat jeep trail. Third mile - back the way we came, rocky and uphill.
The weather was perfect for running. Temperature in the 40s. Not a cloud in the sky. I got there early, picked up my packet, and sat in the car playing Words With Friends for a while. At T-30 minutes I went for a 10 minute warm up and then headed to the start line. I decided I didn't need my long sleeve on top of the short sleeve jersey so I asked Marilyn if I could put it in her Luna truck (because the car was just so darn far away (about 50 yards)). So capris, short sleeve tech shirt, gloves, running cap.
This race isn't chip timed, and the only awards are given to the top 3 overall finishers, so no pressure to perform here. No chance of my accidentally ending up in the top 3. But since the first and last mile were narrow, placement was important if I didn't want to get stuck behind a pack of slower runners. The race was sold out at 70ish runners. I placed myself near the front, but not too near and it worked out pretty well. I found myself behind a pair of women who were going a nice, conservative pace but not too slow. I remember letting two runners pass us by before I deemed myself ready to pass. I passed maybe one more person on the single track And then it was clear sailing the rest of the way. I had found my place in the pack and didn't really pass or get passed again.
I checked my watch as the lead runner passed me going the opposite direction - 1.13 miles. I tried to count how many were ahead of me, but lost count pretty quickly (like after 3). I was hoping by the time I got back to the single track section it would be clear of people still coming the opposite direction, and for the most part it was. Just a few stragglers that gladly let me by.
There was a runner not too far ahead on the uphill single track and I used her as my rabbit. I thought I might be able to catch her, but I ran out of time. I got to within maybe 20 yards of her before the finish.
My Garmin time was 30:42. The Garmin distance was short, but it isn't so accurate in the woods. For comparison, my time in the first 5K in the series, the Dirt Trails & Pony Tails 5K, was 36:46. Completely different course, but I'll take the improvement! For one thing, I didn't make any wrong turns on this one!
At the finish line I received my cool finishers prize - lime green arm warmers! I got a quick massage from Michelle Perez Hittner that felt wonderful for my stiff neck! Ate a couple of pancakes and had to hit the road to get to my second event of the day - Jody's 75 for 75 at the Veloway in South Austin.
Since there is no timing, it's hard to know how you did compared to everyone else. I looked at the race photos, and if they're in order, which I think they are, then I finished 15th. 15th out of 70ish? I like that.
Watching my step...
Being social at the finish line?
Marilyn, me, and Becky post race
It was an out and back starting from Russell Park on the north shore of Lake Georgetown. I did an 11 mile fun run with THR in December, so I knew exactly what to expect. First mile - skull rock, downhill. Second mile - out and back on flat jeep trail. Third mile - back the way we came, rocky and uphill.
The weather was perfect for running. Temperature in the 40s. Not a cloud in the sky. I got there early, picked up my packet, and sat in the car playing Words With Friends for a while. At T-30 minutes I went for a 10 minute warm up and then headed to the start line. I decided I didn't need my long sleeve on top of the short sleeve jersey so I asked Marilyn if I could put it in her Luna truck (because the car was just so darn far away (about 50 yards)). So capris, short sleeve tech shirt, gloves, running cap.
This race isn't chip timed, and the only awards are given to the top 3 overall finishers, so no pressure to perform here. No chance of my accidentally ending up in the top 3. But since the first and last mile were narrow, placement was important if I didn't want to get stuck behind a pack of slower runners. The race was sold out at 70ish runners. I placed myself near the front, but not too near and it worked out pretty well. I found myself behind a pair of women who were going a nice, conservative pace but not too slow. I remember letting two runners pass us by before I deemed myself ready to pass. I passed maybe one more person on the single track And then it was clear sailing the rest of the way. I had found my place in the pack and didn't really pass or get passed again.
I checked my watch as the lead runner passed me going the opposite direction - 1.13 miles. I tried to count how many were ahead of me, but lost count pretty quickly (like after 3). I was hoping by the time I got back to the single track section it would be clear of people still coming the opposite direction, and for the most part it was. Just a few stragglers that gladly let me by.
There was a runner not too far ahead on the uphill single track and I used her as my rabbit. I thought I might be able to catch her, but I ran out of time. I got to within maybe 20 yards of her before the finish.
My Garmin time was 30:42. The Garmin distance was short, but it isn't so accurate in the woods. For comparison, my time in the first 5K in the series, the Dirt Trails & Pony Tails 5K, was 36:46. Completely different course, but I'll take the improvement! For one thing, I didn't make any wrong turns on this one!
At the finish line I received my cool finishers prize - lime green arm warmers! I got a quick massage from Michelle Perez Hittner that felt wonderful for my stiff neck! Ate a couple of pancakes and had to hit the road to get to my second event of the day - Jody's 75 for 75 at the Veloway in South Austin.
Since there is no timing, it's hard to know how you did compared to everyone else. I looked at the race photos, and if they're in order, which I think they are, then I finished 15th. 15th out of 70ish? I like that.
Watching my step...
Being social at the finish line?
Marilyn, me, and Becky post race