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RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K - Run5k


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Boston, Massachusetts
United States
RYKA Iron Girl
Total Time = 1h 02m 32s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = Mother-Daughter
Age Group Rank = 11/48
Pre-race routine:

Woke up, got ready, ate breakfast with Emily...got in the car and left. Running races are so much easier than tris...you are dressed with running shoes on your golden..nothing to forget. Drive down was quick, scored a great parking spot and saw Patty. Waited for others and met Monica and her husband. Got back in porta potty line...took 15+ minutes, which gave me 5 minutes to start.

Goal to have fun and run fast without watch or HRM. My last 5K was in November was 33:01, and I have run that distance in my neighborhood at about 9:17m/m or 28:46 so I was hoping to beat that.
Event warmup:

Ran for about 2 minutes as no time....really needed more Porta Potties as this is a women's race.

Total time includes both Emily and my time w/o consideration of when we actaully started the race.
Run
  • 30m 6s
  • 3.11 miles
  • 09m 41s  min/mile
Comments:

It was crowded and space at starting line pretty narrow with 1400 women all starting at the same time. It took about 90 seconds to get to starting line, then very hard to run as very congested. I tried to weave my way through people and wanted Emily to follow, but it was hard as the mass of people moved you had to stay at that pace. Made the turn and passed mile 1, kept checking on Emily as she was following me through the dodging of people. Once onto busy street, area to run narrowed and it became more difficult to get around people. I did a check here to see how I felt, legs were okay, my breathing was labored and I thought what was keeping me from going faster...didn't come to a conclusion.

Once we turned off that street it thinned out and we had a whole side of the road and here Emily ran next to me. After completed mile 2 maybe 3-4 minutes encouraged Emily to take off as she wasn't even breathing hard. It was fun to see her dart around people and get farther and farther ahead...we wore matching turqoise shirts and red hats so she we easy to spot. Here more people passed me than I passed.

As we neared the finish, tried to push harder but didn't feel very strong, heard them announce Emily's name as she finished...great moment very proud of her...finished. Up until this point I felt okay, was so so about the crazy women race atmosphere, but I made the mistake of accidentally seeing the finish clock and was stunned at how slow I was...really thought I'd be 2-3 minutes faster, but I hadn't factored in the 90 second delay in starting. Mentally I did bad here...put my happy Mom face on but was pissed and frustrated as an athelte. I run faster 5K around my neighborhood by 90 seconds...where was the race motivation and improvement? Sucked it up and enjoyed a nice breakfast with Emily, and Kevin than watched the other BTers finish as most of them were doing the 10K.
What would you do differently?:

I would be sure to warm up, give up any hope of setting a PB, have a more fun "women" celebration attitude, seed ourselves further up front, and push harder once things unclogged.

Did a lot of mental thinking after the race and all day as I was conflicted...happy for great mother-daughter event that this was, and trying to deal with the disappointment of how I did. Improvement isn't linear and my last when I run in my neighborhood neighboorhood 5K right after Mooseman about 4 weeks ago which was my spring A peak race, since then my fitness has probably cycled down and will build up again for Cranberry. Okay you all know that I overthink stuff...and did it here. Trying to grow and learn from my experience.

I was shocked that we placed as well as we did in the mother-daughter category...top 25% in a running event...me...wow that is cool! Emily finished about 40 seconds faster tahn me and she did that all in about .7 of a mile. I can't wait to see what she can do with less traffic and more self knowledge about her pacing ability. We were 2 minutes out 6th place...very cool!

I should have given up expectations when we hit all the traffic...but for an official 5K I PBed by almost 3 minutes yet I know I can do better.
Post race
Warm down:

Saw Monica finish the 5K, then later May and Ellen were doing great and finishing strong for the 10K followed shortly by Patty. We all hung out and gabbed...fun BT time!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

It was very crowded on the race course and women did not seed themselves correctly plus many folks were running in groups which boxed you in more.

Emily was behind me until we finished mile 2, so I kept checking on her...conflict between being a Mom (won out) and being an athelte.

Check out Emily's race report:
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp...

Event comments:

The post race activities were great, food was fantastic, race itself was the issue for me...to many women, not enough space, and they started the 5K and 10K at the same time...took almost until start of mile 3 to have to room to run at your own pace. Chip timed but did not record time started the race, took us 90 seconds to get to starting line. Very upbeat positive women's race, but don't expect to be fast here.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2006-06-21 12:00 AM
Running
00:30:06 | 03.11 miles | 09m 41s  min/mile
Age Group: 11/48
Overall: 0/
Performance: Below average
Free from measuring device race!
Course: In Quincy out and around a loop...on some busy streets with not enough room for 1400 women to run...very crowded.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Ok
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2006-07-09 7:29 PM

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Champion
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Subject: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K


2006-07-09 7:37 PM
in reply to: #477174

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Champion
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Williamston, Michigan
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
Great race no matter what way you slice it!! Awesome pictures of the two of you as well.  So Cute!!! 
2006-07-09 7:47 PM
in reply to: #477174

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Pro
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MA
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K

The race start sounds like the "Corporate Challenge" I ran a month ago.  It was 6.5 min after gun fired when I got to the start line. 

Great race, Kathy, and you must be proud to have such a great athletic daughter.  You did really well, too.  Top 25% placement on the team!  Congrats. 

Wish I was there 

2006-07-09 7:47 PM
in reply to: #477178

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Resident Matriarch
N 43° 32.927 W 071° 24.431
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K

yep, I'm with Sue on that one Kathy.  You had a great race no matter how you look at it.  I think it was a bit more humid than any of us were aware of.  We thought we were running faster than we were too.

It was great seeing you and Emily sure is speedy!

 

2006-07-09 7:58 PM
in reply to: #477174

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Master
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Virginia Beach, VA
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
You had a great race, and a PR and you got to race with your daughter!!! It was a great day!
2006-07-09 8:05 PM
in reply to: #477196

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Veteran
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Worcester, MA
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
it was great to meet all of you! that start was pretty crazy, luckily everyone ran away from me. glad you had a good race, though.


2006-07-09 8:32 PM
in reply to: #477205

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Master
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CT
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
Great race Kathy-Congrats on the PR and a great team finish with your daughter.

Pam
2006-07-10 1:28 AM
in reply to: #477174

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Extreme Veteran
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Plymouth MA
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
Your pictures are great!   I'm jealous that you had Emily to run with and my daughter didn't want to do it .  I wouldn't worry too much about times at this race because of the way it started.   Nice job by the Graves girls!!
2006-07-10 5:54 AM
in reply to: #477174

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Champion
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Wisconsin
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
aw man, I know you are frustrated, but you gotta know that "women's races" = "events" not races. I am glad mom beat out athlete, you and Emily are so lucky to have each other!
2006-07-10 8:37 AM
in reply to: #477174

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Coach
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Boston, MA
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
CONGRATS to both of you Good to see you on Saturday btw...
2006-07-10 10:32 AM
in reply to: #477174

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Champion
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Sarasota, FL
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K

Congratulations!  You guys look great in your matching outfits.  Enjoy times like these with your kids - they grow up way too fast.

Mark



2006-07-10 11:27 AM
in reply to: #477174

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Elite
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Bay Area, CA
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
Great race!  On some stuff (like this apparently) you just gotta go with the flow and enjoy.  Sounds like it really wasn't organized well enough to have a PB time, and having to run around people, that's going to slow you down as well. 
2006-07-10 11:59 AM
in reply to: #477174

Expert
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Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
Great race for both of you...I like the matching outfits.

Mark
2006-07-10 12:02 PM
in reply to: #477174

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Extreme Veteran
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ma
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K

Great race Kathy. I looked for you, but didn't see you anywhere!!

I loved (and appreciated) your report of how you viewed Emily's run with yours.

 

2006-07-10 3:49 PM
in reply to: #477174

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Extreme Veteran
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Boston, MA
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
Sounds like you had a great time. Great job and I love the matching outfits!
2006-07-10 5:17 PM
in reply to: #477174

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Extreme Veteran
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Waterboro, Maine
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
What a great race. You are a wonderful mother! I cannot imagine running with my Mom when I was 11. I know your time was a disappointment, but I am sure the pride in Emily's race made up for it! She will be an athlete for life! Go Graves'Girls!


2006-07-10 7:51 PM
in reply to: #477174

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Member
52
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Cambridge, MA
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
Terrific job, both of you!

It's really interesting for me to compare your experience with mine at the back of the pack. Things like not having enough room to run at your own pace until almost mile 3 - in a 5K! - wow, I can definitely see where that would be frustrating. Thanks for describing it so well!

2006-07-11 12:11 AM
in reply to: #477174

Champion
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Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K

Wow, you two look great!  Wish I could have been there to cheer you on.....great race for both you and Emily!

 

2006-07-11 12:15 AM
in reply to: #477174

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molto veloce mama
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Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
that is SOOOOOOO cool. i can't wait to be able to race with my girls. this was just a fantastic race report. your description of watching her run away towards the finish brought tears to my eyes. like a baby bird flying the nest and soaring.
2006-07-11 8:31 AM
in reply to: #477174

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Expert
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acton, Ma
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K

aw shucks Autumn... you had to mention flying away from the nest......

Sounds like you two had a great time.  My daughter is just turning 5, but I look forward to doing things like this together.

Go Irongrrls!

2006-07-11 12:48 PM
in reply to: #477174

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Master
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Bronze member
Subject: RE: RYKA Iron Girl Boston - 5K
Ah...FUN STUFF Kathy! Great pix of Emily & of you two- this is priceless ..you can PB a 5k by mucho minutes at a local less crowded venue when you are not conflicted with being the proud & attentive mom..and you WILL. Thinkni I should have hoofed it down from NH to hang out with you guys..looking forward to seeing you all soon- keep rolling on those solo AND mother daughter training sessions..ENJOY!


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