June 09, 2007
- Distance 6.20 miles
- Time 01:11:39
- Average Speed 5.19 mph
- Average Pace 11:33 min/mile
NYRR Mini 10K
Oh god. What a mistake running home from work last night was. I really paid for it this morning. I knew it was a mistake right up until mile 5 today, and then past mile 5, I REALLY knew it was a mistake.
Don't get me wrong, I actually enjoyed the race. I knew I was running super slow, and it didn't even bother me. It was pretty hot, but it was an all-chick race so it had a pretty good vibe.
The race started on Central Park West, rather than in the park itself. So you get to run along the road and through all the red lights for quite a bit, until you turn into the park around 88th street. My whole strategy was to 'just keep plodding'. And so I did. Plod, plod.
I allowed myself a luxury of walking at the water stations to pour water on my hat and over my head, but that was going to be my only luxury. Plod, plod.
Then, at the "800 yards to go" sign I realized I was well and truly effed. Just my legs though. They just had nothing, absolutely nothing in them. I began thinking "Christ, you're not going to even finish this," and then tricked myself to the "400 yards to go" sign by continually telling myself that. You know, positive reinforcement and all. But the 400 yards sign also made me curious about the brain and just what's possible.
I said to myself, "You've got more, you just don't like yourself knowing that." So, I dropped the hammer. It was only 400 yards. How tough could that be?
It sucked arse. I was gunning it to the line and I thought "Yup, you're gonna collapse as soon as you get over." I didn't, but that was only out of my tendency to be super stubborn. It was bad. The last time I felt that drained was after the half at Virginia Beach last year. Felt much better after the bagel though.
Now I'm sitting here on Saturday afternoon (at work, don't ask) drinking a Modelo especial and trying not to pay attention to how much my knees are aching.
I am still going to run home from work more often though. It made me feel good. And so does this beer, just between me, you, and this website.
Data here (the Nike+ was a little off)
http://runnoodlerun.wordpress.com/2007/06/09/sa...
Comments
Hey Noodle - where'd this job come from? I thought you were in an unemployed state of mind. I must have been confused or missed something -- even went back and re-read your entries to see where I went wrong in my thinking. Sounds like this NY racing thing keeps a person going w/ little down time -- almost a race every other week isn't it? Phew! By the way, going to the Bowerman Boardroom must have been pretty slick. Tomorrow is the Prefontaine Classis here in Eugene - Bill Bowerman's place in the old wooden stands is pretty much a shrine out here. As they prepare Hayward Field for the Olympic Trials next year I hope they will keep that old part of the field the same -- fortunately/unfortunately I'm old enough to just barely remember him being there. Good nostalgia.
Nah, you didn't miss it. This job arrived on a hot flaming pie a few weeks ago. The flaming pie made me an offer I couldn't refuse. How can anyone refuse a pie? Specially when the person lives in New York. This place is a sink hole for money. The novel is still in the works...it's just become a weekend thing.
I went a bit crazy with the signing up for races and I wasn't really paying attention when I did it. I have two in one weekend coming up. What an idiot.
It was a bit of a thrill being in the Bowerman Boardroom - and the NIke offices in general. Weirdly enough, I just watched the old Pre movie with Donald Sutherland two weeks ago, and I still remember when I was out in Fossil last year and talking about him in the middle of the fossil field. But Nike didn't buy our awesome idea...might go pitch it to Adidas. :)
Congratulations on the job - it is ALWAYS nice when it is an "offer you can't refuse" - those things don't come around very often in life. That is really cool and also speaks highly of your ability. All that being said, I'm anxious for the novel to get out of your head and to the rest of the world - at least my part of it. With work, running, and novel, you pretty much have your summer planned - they tell me that more serious training for the marathon should begin around the first part of August.
It would serve the swoosh right - the three stripe guys led the way in the beginning - maybe you can help them catch back up.
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