catherine's running efforts

BYU Homecoming Cougar Run 5K

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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: BYU Homecoming Cougar Run 5K (3.13 Miles) 00:22:19, Place overall: 16, Place in age division: 1
Total Distance
5.22

I was looking forward to today for a couple of reasons. First, even though I've kind of had a bummer running summer, I thought I could get a post-pregnancy PR (and I did, by 3 seconds). Second, it was ELLOTT'S FIRST RACE! We realized yesterday that they also have a 200m run for kids 1-4, so we entered her. She did so good. She was the last one to finish, but she was also the smallest and youngest that we could see. And she was happy the whole time. Eric posted the video over on his race report. I'll just post a picture. 

My race was okay. I've run around campus several times in the last few weeks (and I've done a few campus 5Ks), so I knew exactly how the elevation would go. I tried to not go out too fast on the uphill start, to relax but push myself a little bit for the downhill part, and to not give up for the last uphill mile. Every time I wanted to slow down I would tell myself, "post-pregnancy PR...post-pregnancy PR.." But in the last mile I got tired (and I *hate* that gradual uphill) and I started telling myself that I didn't deserve a post-pregnancy PR. I had more consistency going into other races, I've been kind of sick and tired this week, etc. I know I need to work on the mental game. I don't think I could have gone a *lot* faster today, but I think I could have at least picked off the two girls that ended up a few seconds ahead of me. Or I could have at least tried. 

Splits: 7:19, 6:29, 7:38, 7:03 for last .13 (and THANK YOU to whoever decided not to make us run on the grass before the track - two years ago I almost slipped and died (not really) there) 

Anyway, I was happy with my race overall. Running isn't just about how fast my body can go; it's also a lot about thoughts and emotions and confidence. I know I held it together for the last mile better than I did at the Rex Lee 5K earlier this year and the Homecoming 5K two years ago, so that's good. I also took first in my age group. Age group wins are hard for me, though - it's hard to not feel silly about winning a medal or something when I'm several minutes behind the overall winners. But that's a whole other topic.  

After the awards Eric and I did 2 miles with Elliott in the stroller before heading home. I wish we would have done it right after the race; my legs were already pretty tight by then, and they didn't start to feel better until we were almost done. 

Kinvara 3 Miles: 5.22
Weight: 0.00
Comments
From RAD on Sat, Oct 13, 2012 at 16:34:27 from 98.202.23.178

That is a GREAT time Catherine! Congrats on the PR, soon you won't have to say post-pregnancy...they'll all be PRs!

Congrats as well to little Elliott! I love the pics. I hear you on the AG medals when you are so far behind the leaders, but hey...we don't make the rules, right? :)

From Burt on Sat, Oct 13, 2012 at 16:35:52 from 174.235.195.122

Great job Cat! I have a lot of the same emotions that you have during races. And I'm not even a girl! But congratulations on beating all those college girls that in my mind were there. I guess all the jokes I've heard about BYU coeds are true.

From catherine on Sat, Oct 13, 2012 at 16:48:11 from 69.169.149.5

Thanks RAD. I'm not so sure about PRs soon, though - this semester has been pretty rough on my running (including this week I've only had 5 weeks over 10 miles since the beginning of August) - not really the stuff PRs are made of. :)

Burt - we should run together and let our self-destructive thoughts run amok. Yes, I did beat a bunch of college girls (I'm sure none of the cross country/track team, though). And yes, everything you've heard is true. EVERYTHING.

From Smooth on Sun, Oct 14, 2012 at 00:32:00 from 65.130.14.36

Good job Catherine! CONGRATZ on the AG win!!! Love Elliott's pix! That bib is almost bigger than her! SO CUTE!!! :)

From Brooke on Sun, Oct 14, 2012 at 08:45:26 from 71.219.155.251

What a great post to read! Nice job on your PPR! :) You did good fighting through the mental stuff, that is way harder than anything else. Do you have any racing plans next year?

Oh wow, that video was the cutest thing ever! She is so cute. A video of her first race like that will be priceless when she grows up. Go Elliot! :)

From Scott Ensign on Sun, Oct 14, 2012 at 14:08:30 from 67.40.114.105

nice race, congrats to all three of you. this is such a great family friendly race- the 200 meters is so cool. congrats to Elliot on a great race debut!!! she definitely wins the award for best running outfit!

From catherine on Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 08:38:57 from 128.187.97.18

Thanks Smooth and Brooke and Scott! Brooke - not yet. Right now my goal is just consistency.

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