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HCA Virginia 8k - Run8k


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Richmond, Virginia
United States
Sports Backers
38F / 3C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 10m 57s
Overall Rank = 2957/3587
Age Group = F 30-34
Age Group Rank = 316/384
Pre-race routine:

Woke up, got dressed, and made an espresso before leaving the house. Drove to the race site, parked in my normal downtown lot, and walked to starting line.
Event warmup:

Walked 5 blocks from parking lot to the bag drop off. Dropped bag off, walked to starting corral two blocks away. Bounced around to keep warm.
Run
  • 1h 10m 57s
  • 4.97 miles
  • 14m 17s  min/mile
Comments:

Really wasn't feeling this run - I'd been really sick for the week leading up to it and wasn't sleeping well. In fact, I seriously considered sleeping in and skipping it. But, since I had post-race plans with Kristen and Judi, I sucked it up and went. My strategy was to have planned walk/run intervals. But, my Garmin was dead when I went to grab it in the morning. So, at the start of the race i decided to do intervals based on blocks.

I ran the first 7 blocks, then walked 7. Kept alternating that the whole way. I tried to ignore all the people passing me - even when I was running - and stick with my own pace. It's not really the easiest thing to do. Despite that, I was pretty surprised at how quickly the blocks were going. I ended up shortening some of my walk intervals because I felt so good and wasn't having huge problems breathing because of the cold like I expected. When I got to the 4 mile marker, I decided to walk up a few last blocks uphill and then run the rest of the way. The last 0.4 miles or so are all downhill, so I really passed lots of people by kicking it out on the last big hill section. That felt great!
What would you do differently?:

Given my physical condition, I'm not sure there's a lot I would have changed about how I handled this. I was sick and was never going to run the whole thing.
Post race
Warm down:

Walked around the island, got food. Stood in line at the McDonald's truck for free coffee and smoothie samples - they were totally not worth it! The coffee was terrible. Walked ALLLL the way up the hill to bag check (who's genius idea was that?) and then back down to wait for Judi to finish. Knit a few rows of my shawl while waiting and got some crazy weird looks.

Once Judi finished, we walked to her car and then to Starbuck's to get some real coffee! Changed clothes in the Omni, then went back down to find Kristen who was stuck in the med tent. We sprung Kristen and walked to Cap Ale House to get some food and a beer. Great post-race food plan!!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Being sick, lack of training

Event comments:

New finish on Brown's Island is nice for the post-race activities, but it was really far to get to bag check and back to parking. Everything post-race was uphill!




Last updated: 2012-10-11 12:00 AM
Running
01:10:57 | 04.97 miles | 14m 17s  min/mile
Age Group: 316/384
Overall: 2957/3587
Performance: Average
Course:
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Yes
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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2012-11-16 12:31 PM

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Science Nerd
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Redwood City, California
Subject: HCA Virginia 8k


2012-11-16 5:19 PM
in reply to: #4500827

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Seattle
Subject: RE: HCA Virginia 8k

Oooooh McDonalds coffee, yikes!!!! I'm not even a big coffee snob but that stuff is BAD.

Great work with the strong finish and keep it up!

2012-11-16 9:03 PM
in reply to: #4500827

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Royal(PITA)
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West Chester, Ohio
Subject: RE: HCA Virginia 8k

I'm glad you stuck with it despite feeling sick!  Awesome job improvising the run walk intervals when the Garmin was dead (we still love E despite messing up the Garmin)Wink

Post race lunch was fun, the reason we need to do more races together Laughing

2012-11-18 8:46 AM
in reply to: #4500827

Iron Donkey
38643
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, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: HCA Virginia 8k
Get better before a race and get that training in, okay??!!
2012-11-19 11:33 AM
in reply to: #4500827

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Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: HCA Virginia 8k
Loved your race report, Jen!  Glad breathing went OK for you considering your illness, and it was really cool to read you were able to run most of the last half without issue!  Congrats on a great race, and a big one, too: 3587 people, wow!
2012-11-20 4:36 PM
in reply to: #4500827

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Master
3888
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Overland Park, KS
Subject: RE: HCA Virginia 8k
Ahhhhh Starbucks Coffee........Yeah, I would have "sprung Kristen" out of the med tent also in a hurried attempt to get to the good coffee too!  Not to mention the beer and eats after.  Kudos to you toughing this out, you get a bad a$$ PB endorsed high five for that one Smile


2012-11-20 10:14 PM
in reply to: #4500827

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Veteran
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Citrus Heights, CA
Subject: RE: HCA Virginia 8k
Despite the un-wellness, it sounds like a good race! I love that you were knitting afterwords! Apart from the fact that I do cross-stitch instead of knitting, it sounds like what I would do if waiting for someone.
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