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 Run
Comments: The run was good - the toughest part was the last mile - I was running like stated earlier pretty much anaerobic the whole race so by the time we hit the 5 mile mark I was feeling it then....just 1 more mile I kept sayin..you can do this. The bridge was just awesome to run over, this was the new one, last time I ran this it was over the old bridge, so just getting to run across the new one was quite special...beautiful view from the top and the weather could not have been better. There was a nice breeze and mostly head on it was ...but a steady breeze all during the race so I never really got hot, temps were being held down thanks to cloud cover, it was humid....c'mon people...this is the south...humidity is in our blood...but as the sun poked out just as I came off the bridge and into the city...I was glad I was almost finished..once the sun gets out..it can get hot and steamy real quick there. I did develop some hot spots on the bottoms of my feet...my own fault - I wore the wrong type of running socks for this long of a run...so I had a blister on both feet right where those hot spots were...thing is..I knew that was happenning while I was running...but what ya gonna do..ya know. The last mile was the hardest on me....my HR was crazy hi and I knew I did not have much more in me at this pace...GyGy was pullin away from me...we pretty much ran the whole race side by side up till this point. There was alot of bobbin and weavin going on from start to finish as well..since we started in the back we had to manuver around alot of walkers and runners on the upside of the bridge...and once you get into the city the roads get smaller and space does as well..so GyGy, myself and Luis were dodging folks that were slower then our pace and walking of course....sometimes the people traffic can cost you time...but other then the hot-spots on my feet and the HR being maxed I had a great run!!!...for my 1st 10k of the year and since my last one was back in 2001 I am sure I beat my time for that year!!! SO Yeahhh for me!! GyGy was truckin it - at the end she was in the zone and just an arms length ahead of me..I decided to video some ( which I did throughout the race )..I was carryin my camera on me during the race so I could capture the sights and sounds for later...I am glad I did..I have some great footage!!! I got GyGy and Luis crossin the finish line....it was awesome! If my HR would have been lower I would have felt much better about the ending...but I made it non-stop...and I have not run this far yet this year and not run a 10k in a long time..so..I was not all that surprised to see how I performed...and the HR was just a confirmation...I still got work to do!!! We stepped up the pace in the last mile or so...from about a 11 min pace to about 10 -maybe even 9 min mile....I could tell we were running faster and my HR was proof as well..I did not have the heart to tell GyGy to slow down....I just wanted to hang in there for the last mile and cross that finish line...running ..not walkin.. What would you do differently?: Wear the right socks.....have more base/endurance built...so I would have some mojo left for the end of the race...I had nothing left at the end...I felt ok but my HR was tacked at 188-190..and I know that meant I was outta fuel...and I had to walk soon...lucky for me I was crossin the finish line bout that time..otherwise I would have to run / walked it ..had we another mile to go..there was no way I could run anymore w/out gettin some air and getting the HR down....I was on fumes...  Post race
Warm down: BEEP = crossed the mat for the finish!!! stopped my timer on my watch 1:08:37...I did it...better then then my last run at Cooper back in 2001 SWEET JESUS...thank you for making this possible..I had made it w/out passin out or injury...my legs were tight at this point because I went from running to a slow walk in a matter of mere seconds....they were like..WTF!!..and I know why...so we all headed where the masses were headed - to the field for water, food, and some cool down time. We managed to get some fruit, oranges & bananna's and water of course...we found a nice shady spot and commenced to scarfin down the food...my body was in dire need of sugars and carbs...I had burned all mine up..I even popped some power beans on the run...I think those helped me on this run...but I was so anaerobic time I crossed the finish....I needed all I could get. So we chatted about the race with each other, saw some friends there, stretched out....walked around the field just soakin in the day now...it was over...I made it...and me and about 29,000 other tired but smiling faces were enjoyin the fruits of our labor :) We listened to some of the winners and their times being announced over the loud speaker....I was again shocked to hear some 65 year old man ran this freakin beast in 32:28!!!! WHAT!!! Ru Kidden me!! Man...do I feel pathetic now with my 1 hr 8 min time...."time for beer" Luis screamed..and it was time..even though it was only 10 AM....it was time to celebrate our accomplishment!! So we headed off in search of the closest pub for a cold brew-ski...had to pass a couple due to long lines and just understaffed folk scramblin tryin to make everyone happy that walked in the doors...we finally found one ..walked ...seated...and ordered 1st round of beers...time now..bout 10:30 AM..LOL...CHEERS!!...GyGy, Luis and myself all toasted "here's to 6.2 miles and one long bridge"...down the hatch....I felt instantly better now..I was sitting with 2 of my favorite people...my wife and a good friend...we all were tired...we all ached in some part of our bodies...but we all made this run..and we all had smiles on our faces and cold beers in front of us....it was the beginning of a great day and the way we intended to end the run with a victory beer!!:)...what more could you ask for... What limited your ability to perform faster: Running and dodgin 37,000 other people starting off in the walkin group ....the lack of endurance training for me..not running more the 4 miles prior to this race I have not run 6 miles in one run since 2001...so tack on some mileage on me since I last ran this years ago, I was younger, and weighed less,and had more endurance ( LOL...who am kidden LOL! )...and of course - choosin the right socks would have helped me ...once my feet start to get damaged it's hard just press on....my HR being wayyyyy higher then normal....but I know the fix for this...back to base buildin!! Event comments: This was an awesome race!! I had a blast running it with my wife and buddy...could not have asked for better weather...rain did not hit us later in the afternoon.....always have a blast at Cooper!!! Tons of people, the city is out in force to make sure this event goes smoothly and continues to attract more participants and tourists...so if you are into running, lot's of people havin fun, and a "running of the bulls" type atmosphere... this race is for you!!! Last updated: 2008-03-06 12:00 AM
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69F / 21C
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Overall Rank = /37k +
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My prerace routine - well - where should I start? This is one of the biggest races of the year in the SE and I would feel sorta like I was cheating the avid readers of my races logs if I skimped on details - but in lue of how much time most folks actually read these reports I will keep this one short - after all - it is just 1 event!! a big one mind you, but 1 still. Basically - got up around 6 AM - thanks to my buddy that was rooming next to us - he was up at 5AM!! Although I did get awoken by the sound of a dump truck slammin the hell outta of a dumpster at 4AM BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM,....then BAM, BAM, BAM,,,,ARRGGh I gotta get up in 2 hours ya jerk!!! So after that lil "wake me up"...I get the call from Luis at 6 AM...chatted with for bit makin plans for the morning madness... Got up, GyGy was already up and about by now - it's around 6:30 now. We both get our gear on - double check we got all the needfull things - Gy goes downstairs and grabs her breakfast while I continue my morning business..ya know how us guy's are...LOL. She returns and I go get mine - coffee, a bannana muffin and bananna and I am all set. There is a buzz in the air down in the dining area of the hotel, people walkin round in running gear, some wearin their Cooper River t-shirts and race numbers already...LOL...mine was sittin up stairs...plenty of time for that stuff...breakfast 1st!! I was getting excited now...it was race morning and it has been a long time since I ran this one...2001 was the last time I ran it. Got back up stairs, GyGy is ready to go, our friend meets us in the hallway....we head downstairs and pile into our 4-runner and make our way to the race start...
We got a warm up in allright - for some reason where we parked we were way past the start line of the race - we have parked here before and never been this far off - bout a mile and half up the road! So - we started walkin - along with 100's of others that were either just as lost or just takin their sweet time...it was a nice walk - time now - about 7:40 - we get about 1/2 mile from the start line and we hear this roar....had the race started??? OH CRAP!! then we see this cop ride by in his patrol car telling all us slackers to get off the road - the race had started. Only good thing about being last in this race is watchin the Kenyan's coming running by out in front of the 37,000 other folks running this mornin. These dudes are no joke....I had my camera on me so I started shootin film as I see the police motorcycle escort coming down the road and behind them a film/newscrew in a pickup truck and then the runners....everyone knows that this race, year after year, is dominated by these athletes...and when I saw them run by me...I knew how and why they dominate Cooper every year. There must have been a pack of maybe 10 of them...they were so fast I swear they could have been drafting one another..LOL..seriously...like gazelles running from a lion chase they ran past me and 1,000's of cheering fans and tourists and then they were gone....and then the masses came. It was hilarious...comical at best..here are these 10 guy's..all alone...maybe a few wannabe's trailing at back of the Kenyan's...and then it was just massive wall of people running at us...AHHHHH!! It was so funny..people were everywhere...on the sidewalks running, on the road, anywhere there was a path..people were running. It was like 30k plus Forrest Gumps all running at the same time...Hey...that is how I am gonna dress up next year..RUN Forrest RUN!!! :) This run - by far is also a fun run..lot's of folks dress up in costumes and have a ball with this whole event...I saw some real funny ones this year..so..back to the race at hand. So - as we make our way to the start line all the runners have pretty much made it out and the walkers are getting lined up..Oh NO! NOt those slow pokes!!! LOL. My buddy had to use the ole Porto Stinko's as wegot ready to start...so GyGy and I waited..took some pic's...watch as the massive wall of walkers formed at the start...Luis ( my buddy ) comes out of Porto-Jon..( and complaining....what do you expect..:) ) we find a hole in the fence line and squeeze into the start....cross the line -BEEP!! and finally we're off- Cooper River 10k has begun for us...and man was this gonna be a fun run starting where we started!!