10k Turns Magically Delicious!!

Today I got this e-mail:

Dear St. Patrick’s Day 10K Registrant:

We want to take this opportunity to let you know about a couple of changes to the St. Patrick’s Day race in Washington, DC.

After almost a year of effort and the development of numerous courses, we were unable to get a 10K course approved by the District of Columbia government for the 2006 race. Fortunately, a new certified 8K course was developed this year for another race from Freedom Plaza, and we have received approval to use that course instead. ...

We hope the 8K distance will be a welcome change...

Umm, hell yes, I'll say it's a welcome change. I'm already breaking out the Chieftains' CDs. Because no way was I gonna be ready for a 10k in two weeks.

I know—I have a Bad Attitude, just like the nuns said on several report cards. I would just once like to be actually prepared for a race distance. And now, I have no excuses.

***

Saturday was week two of the DC Road Runners Club training for the Mothers' Day 10k. I'm in the "advanced beginners" group? I guess? I'm not sure. So I fit right in, because the two coaches for my group aren't sure about anything, either. Like where we should run, or how far, or what the schedule will be for the next 10 weeks, or how to stretch. For instance. Or what to do during the week. (Am I being hard on them?? No, I haven't even started being hard on them. Because they are volunteers, so I am cutting them some slack. Which is so not in my nature.)

See, I'm kinda doing two things at once; I'm preparing for a 10 miler on April 1; plus a 10k in May (well, plus the 8k. So three things). Which means, I'm looking really good in the 10k group, since I've been training since, like November (and no, I'm still not up to six miles).

We ran slow and easy for 30 minutes, on a fairly hilly course, and I came in first in my group of six or seven. Huzzah. I have no idea how slow I was going; I just know everyone else was going slower. Well, plus, they had to stop a few times to figure out which way to go.

Bex is a coach for this training program (though let me hasten to add, not one of my clueless coaches). She's sending out weekly updates, and encouragement, and plans to her group, all Bex-like, and I am so jealous that I might actually have to switch into her group, just to get the e-mails. Two of my work colleagues are also doing this training, and we're all in different pace groups, which means we get to compare training notes, along with lust and disdain levels for all our different coaches. Tallgirl is in the fastest, speediest group; I'm in the middle-to-low rent district; and Sleuth is coming up fast behind us, all sleuth-like.

We went to Starbucks afterwards and laughed ourselves sick. Which makes the entire training plan worth it right there.

Sunday, on the other plan, the BEX Kill Jeanne training plan, I ran 55 minutes with no walking, in the freakin' freezing cold (although nothing like this) and the wind in my face both ways (how is that possible? I mean really. It's not, is it?).

But that was just the topper to a lovely Sunday morning, where I successfully a) did not drop any bells over the side of the choir loft; 2) hit anyone by mistake; 3) ring any wrong notes; d) or knock over the tables that the bells are on; and v) did no cursing, either! Oh yeah, and I played my two notes (B and C) flawlessly. At the right time, too.

All in all, a stellar weekend.