Suntrust Richmond Marathon – 8k

I have a confession to make:

1) I have not run since the engagement. Yes, I got engaged 17 days ago.

2) I have not properly trained since my last triathlon in September.

Trust me, I have my excuses:

1) I got really sick 4 days after the engagement and was out of commission for 3 days.

2) I have been wedding planning like crazy (it’s practically all I think about right now)! We want to get married in May – June of 2010 but I’m running in to some problems:

a. Since it’s a short (7-8 months) engagement, most places are booked.

b. We can’t do 5 of the 9 weekends in May or June (due to previous commitments including my little sister’s high school graduation and our half-ironman in June)

c. I live in DC – things here are so expensive (and it’s depressing).

Okay, so I’m telling you this for a reason: I ran an 8k today. Originally I had signed up for the half-marathon but due to said confessions and a foot problem, I decide to switch to the 8k. I’m glad I did. (I’m sore as hell!)

The race went better than expected – and I’m glad I decided to run. Since 8k’s are fairly uneventful I don’t have a ton to report. It was a nice, flat (and slightly downhill on the way back), out and back course. Like most of the races I run, many people started when they weren’t suppose to – so I spent the 1st mile running in and out of people. Around mile 1.5, I finally got into a groove. Literally. There were bands and DJ’s playing awesome music along the run – which is fun and motivating since I don’t run with an iPod when racing. At mile 3, I started to feel tired – and this old time runner who was about to pass me (he was probably 50) said: “Come on – don’t let up now”. Okay, okay. So, I picked up the pace and ran the last 2 miles with him. I really needed him and am thankful that he didn’t let me “let up”! The last half mile he said: “This is it – let’s push it in”. And that’s exactly what we did! Glad to be finished, I turned around to give my new running partner a high-five – and he brought it in for a hug. I love runners!



Stats:

Overall: 134/3542

Age Group: 5/559

Gender: 19/???

Time: 35:23 (7:07 pace) – shocking, but a new 8k PR, too!




PS – the race shirts were awesome: long sleeve, wicking and gender specific. Hint to all other race directors: get good shirts!

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Comments

  1. Kudos to you for planning a spring wedding on short notice. Hang in there, you'll find everything you need for your wedding. It will be a busy half-year, but oh-so worth it. And, congrats on the PR!

  2. Congratulations on the engagement!

  3. For struggling you still killed it out there girl! I wish I had your speediness on a good day! 🙂

    Spring wedding! *le sigh* So happy for you!

  4. wow, good race…even with all the stress of planning for a wedding..kudos to you!

  5. I cannot believe how great that is! Well, yes I can. You rock!!! Congratulations on your PR and your engagement!!!!

  6. Holy crap! With 17 days off. You are a speedy machine. Congrats on the PR!!

  7. Nice comeback! Congrats!!

    Good luck with the wedding plans. I remember those days. 🙂

  8. Congrats on the new PR! And good luck with the wedding plans! I am planning a June 2010 wedding also so I feel your pain! Everything seems to be more expensive that time of year!

  9. YAY! Awesome on your PR! And our shirts that we got are amazing 🙂 I've heard that previous year's shirts were awful looking, so I'm glad this years wasn't too bad!

  10. Congrats on the engagement! Great job with the race as well.

  11. Congrats on the engagement and strong race. Sometimes life just gets in the way. You still rocked!

    Also I LOVE women specific shirts. Race directors need to take note!

  12. gender specific shirts??? That is awesome! I've never been in a race that had gender specific shirts. That is pretty frickin cool!!

  13. Oh wow! Congratulations on your engagement! and a PR! So happy for you two 🙂

  14. Great job on the PR. Ahh wedding planning must be fun! Hope its going good and you figure out a day to have it. Stinks that everyone seems to be doing long term engagements! I dont know if i could do a long term engagement.

  15. The grizzled old time runner said…
    Congrat's on your engagement and 8k PR for the 8k. I've probably done this 8k 10 times and I have to admit this year's was my favorite because of our run. You may have felt tired at mile 3, but you were running smooth and relaxed. Your breathing was easy and strides silent. I could sense the conflict and knew you didn't really want to back off.

    I train alone in the morning before work. Our run reminded me how much easier and fun a run can be with a partner. Look me up if you and your husband come down to Richmond for Xterra or other downtown off-road event and I'll give you a course preview.

    Bill
    P.S. Yes, I had been running for a few years before you were born…but I'm only 50. My wife said maybe it's time to reconsider Grecian Formula if I am going to continue hanging out with fast women.

  16. Congrats on the PR!

    I too had a relatively short engagement (8 1/2 months) and know all too well how expensive (Chicago for me) and stressful/time consuming it can be. We were freaking out after calling what seemed like everyone and finding out everything was booked! Best of luck finding a fabulous place! It will come together!

  17. Wedding planning is a good excuse for not training…yet you manage a great time in your 8K? So c'mon how do you stay so awesome like that? Haha…
    Congrats on your PR!

  18. Congrats on a new PR! You are so speedy!! Have fun with the wedding planning!

    CJ

  19. That was awesome…not the excuses part or the you were sick part but the "old time" runner part. That is what makes racing so awesome. The amazing people we get to interact with!

    Congrats!

  20. First about the race: Dang girl. Getting sick is good to you. Your crazy speedy. Congrats on the PR! (I'm also impressed by that 60 year old that was not only able to keep up with you – but pushed you. Also cool he came in for a hug. I love sweet old(er) people)

    About the engagement: Sorry about the roadblocks. You'll figure it out. It will turn out wonderful. I hope you plan on sharing with us all planning details.

  21. I planned a wedding in a little less than six months, and can attest to one positive: a shorter engagement means the awful planning part is done sooner! But I can also attest to the fact that sometimes, a break from hard training is just what we need to shine. Think of it like an accidental taper …

  22. not training + great race = having cake and eating it too…well done!!!

  23. Congrats on the PR. I was cheering the runners in on the 8K while waiting for the marathon to start so I am sure I probably saw you come flying by. Small world!

    Congrats on the engagement. My husband and I got engaged June 20th, 2004 and were married on October 9th of the same year. Quick weddings are the way to go!

  24. Congrats on a new pr! How exciting!!! Even more exciting your planning your wedding so soon! i bet you are LOVING IT!! i'm sure its stressful but enjoy it because i bet it goes by way too fast!!! 🙂 🙂 YAY

  25. Great job on the PR and after not running. Rather than say you didn't run for 17 days and feel guilty about it, think of it as a taper for your 8k. And it obviously worked too!

  26. Congrats on the engagement! I just found your blog and will be following from now on! You are an inspiration! I just completed my first triathalon in August and my first half marathon last weekend.

  27. wow. awesome pr! maybe i should take 17 days off.

  28. Wow, congrats on a speedy race-recovery is the key to success I guess. I hear ya about the wedding planning: annoying! But congrats, that is so exciting!

  29. Congrats on the engagement!!!!! So exciting!!! I got married in May… planning a wedding is a ton of work, but worth it!!!!! 🙂

  30. Congrats on your engagement! Love this post (so inspiring) and your blog. I will so run for beer – LOL! Looking forward to reading more.

    Winks & Smiles,
    Wifey

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