Thursday, May 1, 2014

Five Months in Five Minutes

Looks like I left everybody hanging with that Annapolis Half Marathon preview post. How un-thoughtful of me.

The race didn’t go all that well – I didn’t really kick the cold before the race started, so I wound up running well for about 30 minutes, which is when the lack of good oxygen exchange got to me.

You know what also got to me? The really bad mile markings on the course. They were spaced kind of like this:
“Mile 8” took me a little under 6 minutes, while “Mile 9” took me almost 12. Seriously.

Anyhow, I did manage to pull off what was technically a PR (1:52:24), even though I covered 13.1 miles faster in the second half of the 2013 Myrtle Beach Marathon. Given the inflamed bronchial passages and the seriously bizarrely-marked course, I guess that’ll do.

And I’ve raced a little more since then! In fact, just a few days later, I set a new 5k PR (23:45), thereby indicating that I definitely did NOT have a chance to really race that half marathon.


I also ran a 10k at the end of December, which I did not PR. I did, however, get 2nd in my age group, and got some peppermint bark as a prize.




Score.

On New Year’s Eve, Rachel and I swam 100x100 yards, because that’s what we do on December 31, and then the next day, I ran a not-so-awesome 5k to start 2014 in a not-so-awesome way.


Since then, the only race I’ve done was a 4k open water swim in New Zealand, which I decided to turn into a 5k by missing a turn buoy and eventually back tracking.

 Same price, more swimming. I win.

Oh, right, I was in New Zealand, too. That’s probably the most notable part of this update.
Since getting back from that February trip, things have not been so great. I got sick a couple of times this winter, had my first triathlon did-not-start (Galveston 70.3), and work periodically took over my life. But do not fear, I still have love of the swim-bike-run, and am planning on doing all three at the Monticelloman Olympic Distance Tri in Charlottesville, VA this weekend. Should be a good time.

And since not EVERYTHING is about triathlon, Jason and I did get two cats in March. A beautiful tortie named Pi, who is super loving.

 And a rambunctious black cat who I have renamed “El Diablo.”

You can see why.

20 comments:

  1. Short and to the point! Actually, I really loved reading this post and it's fantastic to 'see' you back, as it were.

    I'm sorry you've been struggling so much with illness :( But you've had some strong runs despite that, and I hope things are improving for you at the moment.

    Obviously I'm crazy for both cats as well. All cats are inherently gorgeous, but Pi reminds me so much of my (departed) cat Minnie, and El Diablo is one of the most brilliant names I've ever heard. It really suits him ;)

    Oh, and I cannot fathom just swimming an extra km like it's NBD...I'm pretty sure I would sink and die out of sheer desperation after realising I was lost. Not that I could make it beyond the halfway point of that race anyway!

    xxx

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    1. I wish I could send you some petting time with Pi, even though it would surely not be anything like having Minnie back. You could also pet El Diablo, it is rewarding as he has the loudest purr motor I've ever heard on a cat.

      I was angry for about 2 seconds once I realized what I'd done, then I just swam back and laughed because what else was I going to do?

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  2. ha, el diablo looks like a handful!

    hopefully you got your illnesses out of the way this year and are set up to bang out some stellar races this year! Congrats on PRs and peppermint bark :)

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    1. At least he only chews up trash, and not valuable things? He's pretty cute, that's why he gets away with it.

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  3. Your cats are adorable, even if rambunctious.

    Sorry the sickness got in the way of the tri. Hopefully things will go more smoothly for the next one!

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  4. The pictures aren't loading for me, but good luck at the tri this weekend!

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  5. Sorry you were sick all winter, but congrats on the new adorable additions and your PR! Good luck this weekend!!

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    1. They are pretty adorable. Thanks for the good wishes!

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  6. The mile marker drawing cracks me up. Good luck this weekend!

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    1. It cracks me up in retrospect, but not as much during the race. "Mile 8? But I just crossed Mile 7 less than 6 minutes ago...WHERE IS MILE 9 FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY WHERE IS MILE 9???"

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  7. You're back! Great to hear from you, friend! PR-ing, traveling to New Zealand, getting new kitties ... and racing this weekend ... you are actually doing *all the things.* Sending fast vibes you way--cannot wait to hear about how much butt you kick!

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  8. Seeing this update excited me so much. I'm sorry you have been off/on sick the last few months. UGH.

    It's nice to hear you've had a few PR's along the way. Good luck in Charlottesville this weekend.

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    1. Yeah, the PRs were cool. Thanks for the good wishes.

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  9. Hey, I missed reading about you! :)

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  10. Bahahaha El Diablo!!! something about those black cats...ours are insane!!! Love the recap, and so jealous that you went to New Zealand!!

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  11. It's great to read this update, even though it sounds like things have been uneven (which can be frustrating).
    I think that I would possibly try to swim 4K (but not 5) if I could go to New Zealand to do it! And the house/life additions are pretty awesome!

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