July 4th 5k, the Streak Continues!

It's another (course) PR at the annual July 4 Autism Speaks 5k:

2009: F52 784/1216 23/40 32:10 10:22

2008: F51 936/1393 21/42 32:33 10:28

2007: F50 614/883 14/26 32:18 10:23

2006: F49 474/728 21/37 32:42 10:31

2005: F48 566/709 28/34 34:41 11:10

yay!

It's a D.C. Fourth!

It's the annual July 4 Autism Speaks 5k:

2005: F48 566/709 28/34 34:41 11:10

2006: F49 474/728 21/37 32:42 10:31

2007: F50 614/883 14/26 32:18 10:23

2008: F51 936/1393 21/42 32:33 10:28

I'm amazingly consistent, I'll give me that.

This July 4 began the same as the last three: me shaking Number One Daughter out of a deep and restful sleep to go run a hilly 5k in 90F heat and 99 percent humidity.

I had no hopes this year for any sort of record, except maybe a PW. (Not true. Secretly I hoped I could place. It's fun being me!) I told NOD I was hoping for "under 36 minutes." How's that for setting the bar?

Last year D.C. Spinster paced me to a course PR. This year I was on my own. I wish I could say what it is about this miserable, hot, hilly race that compels me to tackle it each year. Cuz NOD would really like to know.

NOD and I started out together and she tried talking to me, but soon realized that talking is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN. She took off and I didn't see her 'til the finish.

The race starts with an uphill, but there are surprisingly more downhills than I remember. It weaves through the wide streets of chi-chi Potomac where there's a new McMansion every other house. The millionaires come out to watch, and some even turn on their sprinklers for us. There's a nice neighborhood feeling to this race, with lots of walkers in this race, and also lots of kids, which can be disheartening--if you're me. For a while I was behind one elderly gentleman who grunted loudly with every footfall. Which is SO AGAINST THE RULES. No sounds of misery allowed.

Well, I did set a record. I set a record for the most walking. I don't know why I can't remember that if I would just keep running, I might actually beat myself. I made 2 miles in 20 minutes flat, but then, as usual, the course started winning. Until the homestretch which is a nice long downhill, where I let it rip, and passed a few people. I have a nice finishing kick, if I do say so myself.

It was HOT.

After discovering that YET AGAIN I failed to win a medal (how OLD do I have to be?!?!), we went home and took naps.

Around 2 p.m. I was abruptly awakened by the phone and found myself talking to David who was in town for work. Too bad for the first 5 minutes of the conversation I thought he was another David.

We made plans to meet, and I ended up taking him to a VIP block party on Capitol Hill. You know, that place where all the movers and shakers live and work.
Capitol Hill: The seat of world power.

Poor guy has such a hard time fitting in.

We'd hadn't been there five minutes and he already had a job. Nice.

David and two chicks.

Later we trekked to the Iwo Jima Memorial and watched the fireworks through the rain while everyone screamed at the people in front to sit down, and the people in front screamed back, so then everyone had to stand. The land of the free!
My two BFFs!

Fireworks over the Washington Monument.

Another perfect fourth of July.

Now for Something Completely Different

Go read this alternative account of my little July 4 5K.

It's so hard to be objective about oneself. Always nice to get a view from the outside.

OOPS: Link updated to the actual, correct link.

I CAN Run!

My trusty reliable coach, in a supreme sacrifice, gave up his own PR and paced me to a race PR in today's challenging and HILLY CAN (Cure Autism Now) 5k.

I've done this race three years in a row, so it's great to see progress:

2005: AGE:48
TIME: 34:41 (11:10/min. miles)

2006: AGE:49
TIME: 33:42 (10:51)

July 4, 2007, AGE: 50
TIME: 32:18 (10:24)

Peter was a great pacer. I felt like Lance at NYC. He gave me a running (ha) supply of tips like "lengthen your stride," and "pump your arms" on the uphills, and "glide" on the downhills, and my personal favorite, "relax."

I grunted and said things like "Story!" which, translated, meant: tell me a story to take my mind off this. And he complied, talking about his recent relay doing 10 miles straight uphill at high altitude at Lake Tahoe. He was, however, forbidden from saying the "h" word. We don't say "hills." Ever. Got it?

He did insist on no headphones though. And you know what? That was actually nice. It does tend to make one focus.

Things were going swell the first two miles. Piece of cake! And then, eh, I had to walk a few times. But I do think I ran up every hill. And the finish is a lovely long beautiful downhill.

I still thought I would croak, throw up or pass out at the finish. (Number One Daughter accuses me of being "such a dramatic finisher." As if.) NOD also ran this morning, but gave strict instructions that we were NOT allowed to talk to her or say "good job" to or acknowledge her in any way whatsoever on the course, not even, she said, "If I pass out"). She told me afterwards that she saw me shoving little kids out of my way and that I remminded her of George Costanza trying to get out of the burning apartment. Funny, I don't remember doing any such thing.

Damn kids!

Peter has the official splits, but he said they were something like:
9:55
10:02
12:20 (ugh)

And for more comparison, (it's all about the numbers) I looked up the only other 5k I did this year, on New Year's Day, with zero training, and fewer hills:

33:01 (10:38 min. mile)

So, even though this wasn't a lifetime PR (that would be the George Washington Parkway Classic 5k in 2006: 31:08 (10:08)) I AM SO TAKING IT!

My advice is: Everyone needs a good pacer!

And, there's more! NOD got herself a PR of: 29:40 (9:33 min. mile)! Her time last year: 32:14 (10:22).

So there's some strange exchange taking place between me and NOD as I had practically the same time this year as she did last year. Hmm.

I'm off to the beach for two days of craziness. Yoga classes. Sleeping. Reading. You know, my usual hijinks.



Thanks Peter!