My first 10K run of the year.  The temperature showed 17 degrees when I took Shane out for a warm up at 7:15 a.m.  The run began at 10:00 a.m.  I took a few sips of water, put on a wicking shirt with a high neck and my thinner, but insulated white running jacket.  The jacket is light weight and always amazes me at how warm something so thin can be.  

We went for a 2 mile slow paced warm up.  I got hot and decided I would run the “Beer & Chili Run” at 10 o’clock in something even lighter, my violet Spring/Fall running jacket.  I realized the start would be cold but hoped the lighter jacket would allow me to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the run. 

Ted decided to accompany me with Shane on this adventure and we left the house at 9:00 a.m.  I had a banana with peanut butter as we walked out the door.  It would take us just under 30 minutes to get to Newport, New York and then I would take an Everlast Energy Shot.

The night before the run, we had a delicious meal at Perugia’s.  First, I sampled all the different breads in the bread basket and even made an apple sandwich.  The apple slices came on my fresh greens salad with walnuts and sliced green apples.

When I was about 8 years old, my mother would put slices of apple between two pieces of buttered bread. It was my favorite!

A delicious shrimp cocktail with Grand Marnier cocktail sauce (sweeter and less horseradish flavor than typical cocktail sauce).

We were served a rose sorbet to cleanse our palates. The taste was bursting in our mouths. It was so fresh and so clean tasting. I’d never enjoyed a sorbet quite so much.

Dinner was served but that was after I enjoyed a glass of red wine and went through 2 glasses of water. 

Dinner presented the sweetest tasting scallops served with endive, over couscous.   A brilliant meal.

Ted was kind enough to leave Shane a sampling of his salmon and the server wrapped it up just too nicely for us.

When we arrived home and I was walking Shane for his late night romp, thoughts on running popped into my head. 

• “I love the way my legs carry me and they just fall mindlessly one in front of the other. How blessed”.
• “I like running when the streets are empty and the quietness of the morning is “loud”. 
• “I’d never wear head phones when running with Shane.  I know he can’t hold a conversation but he doesn’t deserve to be ignored”.
• “It’s odd that I’m not nervous about the run in the morning.  I hope that lack of nervousness continues through tomorrow”.

Those were my thoughts as we walked along the dark, quiet street.  What are some of your thoughts the night before a run?

Saturday’s run: The Beer and Chili Run

I picked up my shirt and stood in the long line for the toilet.  I overheard the guys talking about the challenging hill facing the 10K runners.  “It’s not a nice hill.”  “It’s tough but I’m going to try to get over it”.   That didn’t make me feel good.  I thought to myself, “if I get to the 3K turn around and don’t feel good, I’ll just make it a 5K race instead of a 10K”.   I think I knew that wouldn’t happen.  I’d have to go for the challenge.  How hard was this hill anyway?

We met up with Richard Cohen, his father and now him have been my lawyer on a  personal and business level for years. Good thing we took this photo of Richard and me because……DRUM ROLL PLEASE…… RICHARD WON THE 10K!

Does that make me a star as well?!!!

The walk to the starting line was cold and negative thoughts were leaving my head because there was no backing out now. 

The whistle blew. The run began.   It wasn’t even before completing the first mile that I was thinking “I’m tired”.   That wasn’t good.

I saw Ted and Shane pass us in the car.  That was something to look forward to because I knew he would stop somewhere up ahead.

The 5K runners were turning around at their turn point. Should I keep going?  It didn’t look so bad ahead. Go for it.

The hill.  The hill wasn’t good.  I had to walk 20 paces, run 20 paces about 4 times to make it up. It was long and steep.  I needed Shane to pull me up it.  i wondered if there was a person behind me with a cell phone to call 911 if I dropped.  Finally, at the top, I thought it has to be all down hill. Well, it was for the most part but then at 3 miles, when I saw people turning, they kept us going straight. I wanted to turn!  We had to go PAST the turn to the 3.1 mile point then back track.  The worst part?  It was down hill about .1 mile so I had to run back up the hill.  Not very long you say, but at this point, any hill, no matter how long, how steep, looked painful.

In front of me, an older gent. stopped to relieve in the woods.  I took the opportunity to walk a few steps.  As he immerged from the bushes, I began running again.  It was all down hill or flat at this point. 

I don’t do well on down hills.  I don’t let myself go.  I tried…but my feet were slamming so hard on the pavement, it was painful.  I slowed it down.

At 6 miles, there was Ted again and he took my gloves from me. My hands were too sweaty to wear them.  I even had thoughts about getting into the car at that point instead of finishing.

The finish line in sight.  My final time:  55:36.  Pace:  8.56.  I was pleased with that since I really thought that hill was going to put me over an hour. 

Ted and I enjoyed the chili and beer.  They had vegetarian chili as well as a meat version. Lots of rice and Ted liked the beer.  No photo because we forgot the camera in the car.  Sorry. But just picture a paper bowl of chili covering a heaping  half a cup of white rice, sprinkled with extra hot sauce.  A cool, foam topped beer on the side. 

First 10K of the season down.  Not sure I want to think about the next one quite yet.