catherine's running efforts

Buffalo Run 25k

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Location:

Provo,UT,USA

Member Since:

May 06, 2009

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

5K: 21:01, 9/11/2010

10K: 43:49, 7/24/2010

15K: 1:21:00, 5/22/2010

Half-marathon: 1:41:41, 8/28/2010

Short-Term Running Goals:

Now that I'm (almost for sure) done having all the babies, I'm working on building consistency and seeing how fast I can get in my old age. ;)

Long-Term Running Goals:

I'd like to be a healthy and relatively injury-free runner for the rest of my life.  

Personal:

I'm married to Eric (Faceless Ghost on the blog) and we have very active daughters and one dog. I have a PhD in sociology and demography, and I'm incredibly grateful to have work that is meaningful and that builds on my academic experience. I run because it makes me feel strong and it helps to keep the crazy away (there is a long history of abuse and mental illness in my extended family).

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Brooks Cascadia Lifetime Miles: 73.39
Saucony Kinvara Lifetime Miles: 372.79
Girly Altra Lifetime Miles: 366.08
Kinvara 3 Lifetime Miles: 175.92
NB Orange Lifetime Miles: 13.50
Race: Buffalo Run 25k (16.5 Miles) 02:51:00
Total Distance
16.50

 

Going into the race I wondered if I was about to make a huge (little) mistake. It would be the longest distance I've run in about 2 years, the first trail run in about a year and a half, and maybe the fourth time running uphill in about a year. But I wanted the distance, and it would be our third year going to the island for the races, and I was curious about my fitness level compared to a couple of years ago when I went into the race with more trail and hill running but a lot less consistency and fewer miles. Two years ago, when the race was 16 or 16.1, my time was 3:03:28. This year I had 2:51:?? for about 16.5, so definitely better. 

 

I ran with RAD for the first maybe quarter mile, but she soon found her carrot or rabbit or whatever and went off to chase it. Once we stopped going uphill I enjoyed the course, and I settled in a bit and tried not to think about the switchbacks that I knew were coming. I told myself that I didn't have try to run the switchbacks. I stayed with about the same people for most of the race; they'd pass me on the ups, and I'd pass them on the downs. Once we hit the switchbacks I listened to Temperature over and over again - it was a nice marching beat. On a less steep part of the switchbacks I started jogging because a lot of other people were too, but then I told myself to stop getting peer pressured and I went back to my march.

I enjoyed the course for the first half, and for awhile I was thinking that Eric and I should come out and do it about once a month. But after about 8 miles my mood soured and I thought about how much I hate running up hills. I don't mind some trails - I love the pipeline trail, for example (even given some unfortunate experiences there), and I enjoy the Mountain View Trail half marathon course, and I'm almost fond of the stretch of the BST that goes from about Shriners to about Memory Grove. But I just don't think it's fun to try to charge up (or down) things like the Buffalo Run mountains or that Sapper Joe mountain, and I'd only go up that mountain in the pancake run (Grandeur Peak?) if someone were paying me a lot. Or some. I'd probably do it if someone offered 100 dollars. But that would never happen. Anyway, I think it's okay to not like certain kinds of running. Everyone's different. Or maybe it's like how I don't like trying to do pushups or pullups - maybe I'd like it more if I had some muscles. Maybe I'd have some muscles if I tried it more? After the bigger hills I listened to No Diggity over and over to keep myself going, and I was able to keep a pretty consistent pace and pass several people. 

Eric and Elliott made my day by meeting me at the blue tent near the end (when I was thinking, "What the heck? Where in the gravy is the freaking finish line?"). I really really hated the part up the road to the finish, especially since I had been planning on 16 miles and not 16.5. My mom and her parents were waiting at the finish after having explored the island and visitor's center a bit. I felt bad because I wasn't in the best shape for about 20 minutes after finishing (my feet, hips, back, and shoulders hurt pretty bad) and didn't feel like visiting, but it was nice to see them. Before going home we stopped at the Bountiful rec center to play with Elliott in the lazy river and take turns sitting in the hot tub, and after that we stopped at a cupcake place in Salt Lake to cash in a gift certificate for free cupcakes that we've been carrying around since about January 2011. 

 

Girly Altra Miles: 16.50
Weight: 0.00
Comments
From RAD on Sun, Mar 25, 2012 at 22:24:44 from 98.202.23.178

You did an awesome job!!! I hear ya on the "where in the gravy is the finish line?!?" I had that going through my head from mile 15 on!! Seriously though, that was a tough run and you totally conquered it in good style. A longer course AND you PR'd it by over 10 minutes! You are really in GREAT shape and should give yourself kudos for a well run race. I was chasing an old lady up ahead...she beats Smooth in the Grand Slam and isn't very nice to her, I just had to pass her and get her Waaay behind me. I just didn't want to say "sorry, gotta go catch the old mean lady" when I took off. I just saw her up there and had to give it to her :) not that she even knew...it was just me. I really thought you were just behind me following through the crowd, until I got to an opening just past her and I turned and couldn't see you anymore. Nice job just plugging in and finishing a tough race in a spectacular time!

I'd totally go out there once every couple months to run that trail...just not as fast as I did yesterday, and maybe cut off a loop, or two :)

I look like I have to pee in that picture! I guess that is what I get for trying to look normal size and not gargantuan! :)

From jun on Mon, Mar 26, 2012 at 08:05:38 from 174.23.185.94

Now that's an awesome race report. Congrats on a 14 minute PR on a longer course. I was sad when I got out there and you guys had already left. I played phone tag with Eric a bit, but with no success. Congrats again, I hope you had a great rest of the day.

From catherine on Mon, Mar 26, 2012 at 10:18:17 from 98.202.112.38

RAD - I'm glad I got to start with you! And I just thought you were cold in the picture.

That's funny about the mean old lady. Except that hearing that she's mean to Smooth makes me want to hunt her down and smack her. I'm glad you showed her who's boss.

And thanks Jun! We were sad that we missed seeing you. I'm sure our paths will cross again sometime in the future, though.

From Lily on Mon, Mar 26, 2012 at 10:22:40 from 67.199.178.210

Catherine I am so proud of you. And your PR is super cool! You had a baby in the last year and have bounced back so quick. No shame in this run at all.

Elliot is so cute!

From Carina on Mon, Mar 26, 2012 at 12:16:23 from 204.15.86.83

Way to go with a PR!! You did awesome. I have stopped asking people to meet me at the finish of my races for this very reason. I usually just need some time to cool down and stop hurting!

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