Portland Shamrock Run 15K<br>
Portland, OR<br><br><b>Overall Time</b>: 1:23:22 [March 2007 (1:27:50) --> 4:28 Course & Distance PR!!!!]<br>
Mile 1: 8:58<br>
Mile 2: 9:22<br>
Mile 3: 10:06 (I think this mile was long)<br>
Mile 4: 8:45 (And this one was short)<br>
Mile 5: 9:26<br>
Mile 6: 8:30<br>
Mile 7: 8:23<br>
Mile 8: 8:34<br>
Mile 9: 8:21<br>
Last 0.3: 2:53<br><br><b>Breakfast Report</b>: Oatmeal w/ dried cherries, cinnamon, milk, & brown sugar, coffee, water<br><b>Fashion Report</b>: Red GymGirl Snowflake skirt, Red Lizard SS shirt, black visor, my really obnoxious Terry Yitro arm warmers, black running gloves, & my Saucony Omni 6's<br><br>
Another year, another Shamrock. For my "Runniversary" this year, I lined up for another 15K up the Terwilliger hill and Brew_Dad did a short recovery run and paced DS in the 1K Leprechaun Lap (he PR'd too!). This was a B race for me, a milestone on my Alcatraz journey and I did nothing special leading up to it, fully intending on running it on base alone. Working in my favor was the fact that this race fell at the end of a rest week so I went into it with fresh legs. At worst, this race would show me where I am and if I needed to make any adjustments especially with respect to hills. At best, I'd PR. I was feeling strong and I was motivated .<br><br>
We forgot our brains at home this morning and had to go back to the house for them. As a result, we got to the Waterfront just as the Leprechaun Lap was beginning. I took all our gear as Brew_Dad & DS hurried to line up. Off went the kids like the wild pack of jungle animals at the end of Horton (yes, we saw that this weekend too). DS did his trademark walk-run and surged at the finish as a few guys from Brew_Dad's running group cheered their fool heads off for him. After he collected his Finisher's lanyard, we headed for the Lizard tent to drop off our stuff. I had just enough time for the potty line and an easy 1.5 mile jog to the Steel Bridge and back to loosen up the legs. Last-minute decision to wear the arm warmers due to the chilly morning air and I headed for the start line and tried to get as far forward as I could which wasn't very far. Good thing they instituted chip timing this year since it took me almost 2.5 minutes to cross the start mat.<br><br>
My race plan was to run the first 5 miles at a relatively even pace and then negative split the downhill portion as much as my quads would let me. I didn't do so well on the even pacing but in my defense, I wasn't the only person who thought miles 3 & 4 were slightly off. First mile was a bit aggressive, especially in a race of this distance but I wasn't too worried since I knew the first hill going up Broadway would force me to adjust my pace. I just focused on reeling in and passing people. Gentle grade on Broadway and then the real fun started - the big hill up Terwilliger when the crowds noticeably thin. I've run the hill a few times in training and I love it. Crazy I know but there you go. I maintained a strong even pace on the uphills and decided to let it rip on the downhills where for the first time I noticeably felt my cadence pick up. I actually passed more people going downhill than I passed going uphill. Those hill sessions on the bike must be working. Too warm by the time I hit the VA Center so down went the arm warmers and I trucked on. Chart House at the first crest and then one more small uphill right before the 5 mile mark. Time to let it roll. I started picking up the pace - mile 6, mile 7, mile 8. My watch read 1:13 and change. I had this PR in the bag. I could lollygag the rest of the way but I didn't. Typical but I was feeling strong. Though by the time I passed the 9 mile marker, I was hurting and I felt my resolve start to flag. One more surge and I finished strong, proud, and happy.
Portland, OR<br><br><b>Overall Time</b>: 1:23:22 [March 2007 (1:27:50) --> 4:28 Course & Distance PR!!!!]<br>
Mile 1: 8:58<br>
Mile 2: 9:22<br>
Mile 3: 10:06 (I think this mile was long)<br>
Mile 4: 8:45 (And this one was short)<br>
Mile 5: 9:26<br>
Mile 6: 8:30<br>
Mile 7: 8:23<br>
Mile 8: 8:34<br>
Mile 9: 8:21<br>
Last 0.3: 2:53<br><br><b>Breakfast Report</b>: Oatmeal w/ dried cherries, cinnamon, milk, & brown sugar, coffee, water<br><b>Fashion Report</b>: Red GymGirl Snowflake skirt, Red Lizard SS shirt, black visor, my really obnoxious Terry Yitro arm warmers, black running gloves, & my Saucony Omni 6's<br><br>
Another year, another Shamrock. For my "Runniversary" this year, I lined up for another 15K up the Terwilliger hill and Brew_Dad did a short recovery run and paced DS in the 1K Leprechaun Lap (he PR'd too!). This was a B race for me, a milestone on my Alcatraz journey and I did nothing special leading up to it, fully intending on running it on base alone. Working in my favor was the fact that this race fell at the end of a rest week so I went into it with fresh legs. At worst, this race would show me where I am and if I needed to make any adjustments especially with respect to hills. At best, I'd PR. I was feeling strong and I was motivated .<br><br>
We forgot our brains at home this morning and had to go back to the house for them. As a result, we got to the Waterfront just as the Leprechaun Lap was beginning. I took all our gear as Brew_Dad & DS hurried to line up. Off went the kids like the wild pack of jungle animals at the end of Horton (yes, we saw that this weekend too). DS did his trademark walk-run and surged at the finish as a few guys from Brew_Dad's running group cheered their fool heads off for him. After he collected his Finisher's lanyard, we headed for the Lizard tent to drop off our stuff. I had just enough time for the potty line and an easy 1.5 mile jog to the Steel Bridge and back to loosen up the legs. Last-minute decision to wear the arm warmers due to the chilly morning air and I headed for the start line and tried to get as far forward as I could which wasn't very far. Good thing they instituted chip timing this year since it took me almost 2.5 minutes to cross the start mat.<br><br>
My race plan was to run the first 5 miles at a relatively even pace and then negative split the downhill portion as much as my quads would let me. I didn't do so well on the even pacing but in my defense, I wasn't the only person who thought miles 3 & 4 were slightly off. First mile was a bit aggressive, especially in a race of this distance but I wasn't too worried since I knew the first hill going up Broadway would force me to adjust my pace. I just focused on reeling in and passing people. Gentle grade on Broadway and then the real fun started - the big hill up Terwilliger when the crowds noticeably thin. I've run the hill a few times in training and I love it. Crazy I know but there you go. I maintained a strong even pace on the uphills and decided to let it rip on the downhills where for the first time I noticeably felt my cadence pick up. I actually passed more people going downhill than I passed going uphill. Those hill sessions on the bike must be working. Too warm by the time I hit the VA Center so down went the arm warmers and I trucked on. Chart House at the first crest and then one more small uphill right before the 5 mile mark. Time to let it roll. I started picking up the pace - mile 6, mile 7, mile 8. My watch read 1:13 and change. I had this PR in the bag. I could lollygag the rest of the way but I didn't. Typical but I was feeling strong. Though by the time I passed the 9 mile marker, I was hurting and I felt my resolve start to flag. One more surge and I finished strong, proud, and happy.
