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HCA 8K - Run


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Richmond, Virginia
United States
Spotsbackers
24F / -4C
Sunny
Total Time = 51m 20s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = 50-54
Age Group Rank = 40/171
Pre-race routine:

Woke up far too early, had my breakfast and drove up to Richmond. Hung out in the car to stay warm for a while then walked up to the start area. We found an open Starbucks in the Marriott so John got coffee and I had a banana and we were able to stay warm for another half hour prior to the race. I did some stretching and chatted with a couple of other people.
Event warmup:

Found some of my training team friends while waiting for the start. Wished them well and found a spot. Shed my sweatshirt for John to hold and kind of jumped around to stay warm. Was better when there were more people lined up in the corral.
Run
  • 51m 20s
  • 8 kms
  • 06m 25s  min/km
Comments:

I had originally signed up for the half marathon last winter. Work stress and crazy hours through the summer and peak build left my training in a less than ideal place. I knew a half wouldn't work so I dropped back to the 8K race and did the training team. I had initially placed myself in a predicted time of under 45 minutes based on my past 8K's--I knew that was a stretch for where my legs are these days so I hopped in a slower wave for the start. which was definitely a wise call.
So after all this trying to stay warm pre race I know I have to get moving to warm up fully. I just ran smart with what my head and legs said they had. Got slowed a bit with the congestion at the beginning of the course but it thinned out fairly well by mile 1. I had a #megsmiles stickler on my back and someone passed me telling me to run Meg-strong which was my plan. Run smart, run hard, listen to the legs.
Hit mile 2 and it was slowed a bit through the water station. Grabbed a cup and got moving.
Made the turn off Broad St and someone near me commented that we were almost half way. Then we hit the darn cobblestones. Sheesh those things are tough to run on! The sun was in my eyes and silly me left my sunglasses in the car. Pulled my hat down so the visor would block the sun more and kept moving. Man with a little boy running near me kid couldn't have been 8. He was doing great keeping up with his father.
Made the right turn and headed toward mile 4, finally off the cobbles and back on regular road. It was weird seeing the signage for the half and full marathons cause I kept trying to see the 8K signs--hit the last turn and headed down the hill to Tredegar. All I kept telling myself was to not face plant on the hill cause all I could envision was cracking teeth. Hit the finish and waited for my training team buddies
What would you do differently?:

nothing, this was what my legs had in them and I made it my goal to run smart with what I had---not with what what I wanted to have.
Post race
Warm down:

warm down? It's still freezing out!! Finally found John and got my sweatshirt back. Then after using the portapotty I found my sweatpants. Was still shivering and far too cold in the wind so after walking around a while (hoping to find some more of the megsmiles team) we headed to the car. Found a coffee shop and grabbed coffee while we circled the block trying to find the parking garage.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

cranky legs

Event comments:

Sportsbackers does an awesome job with their races. I had never done the training team before and would totally do training team again. It made things more fun and sociable to run.

****I have a half dozen pictures that I keep getting error messages on when I try to upload them, If you are my Facebook friend I have them there****


Profile Album


Last updated: 2014-09-02 12:00 AM
Running
00:51:20 | 08 kms | 06m 25s  min/km
Age Group: 0/171
Overall: 0/
Performance:
mile 1 10:15 mile 2 21 mile 3 31:45 mile 4 41 finish 51:20
Course: Fast and flat, no climbs but a hard downhill at the finish. Mile 3-4 or thereabout was on cobblestone as was the finish
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
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: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2014-11-15 10:48 AM

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Royal(PITA)
14270
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West Chester, Ohio
Subject: HCA 8K


2014-11-15 5:59 PM
in reply to: #5067778

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Member
2689
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Denver, CO
Subject: RE: HCA 8K

Yay, Judi!!  You made a good choice to opt for the 8k and it sounds like you had a great race.  Cobblestones are brutal - how in the world did you not twist an ankle?!  You did Meg proud, giving your best effort and keeping a smile on your face.  Great job, friend!

2014-11-15 7:09 PM
in reply to: laffinrock

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Expert
1384
1000100100100252525
Charlottesville, Virginia
Subject: RE: HCA 8K
Congrats Judi! It was frickin' cold this morning. The coldest Richmond for me, for sure... maybe my coldest race ever. Why the heck do they have you run on cobblestones... that is asking for trouble. Odd. Whatever... congrats! Got 'em done!
2014-11-15 7:18 PM
in reply to: #5067778

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344
10010010025
Spencer, New York
Subject: RE: HCA 8K
Good run Judi. Very wise to pay attention to your body in the moment. 24 degrees seems very cold for Richmond!
2014-11-15 8:06 PM
in reply to: #5067778

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Master
1848
100050010010010025
Canandaigua
Subject: RE: HCA 8K
Nice job kid.
2014-11-16 4:10 PM
in reply to: dexter

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Master
4452
200020001001001001002525
Subject: RE: HCA 8K

Way to go Judi!  Cobblestone roads are great, but not for running on.  Good job on listening to the legs on a cold run.  I love the photo of you!



2014-11-17 2:13 AM
in reply to: #5067778

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Expert
973
5001001001001002525
Berkeley, Calif.
Subject: RE: HCA 8K
Great run, Judi!! Good call doing the 8k, and it sounds like you had fun and raced smart. It's so good to see you enjoying the run again.
2014-11-17 4:23 AM
in reply to: Fielding

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Pro
5123
5000100
Canandaigua NY
Subject: RE: HCA 8K

Great run Judi!  It is tough to get moving fast in the cold!  You did an awesome job!!

2014-11-17 5:46 AM
in reply to: kenj

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Expert
1439
100010010010010025
Tallahassee
Subject: RE: HCA 8K
Congrats! Shoot you are tough going out in weather that cold. GREAT job!
2014-11-17 8:04 AM
in reply to: #5067778

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Master
6834
5000100050010010010025
Englewood, Florida
Subject: RE: HCA 8K

You are a rockstar! Great job on working with what you had and enjoying the day. Congratulations on a race well run.

2014-11-17 10:29 AM
in reply to: cdban66

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Champion
14571
50005000200020005002525
the alamo city, Texas
Subject: RE: HCA 8K

great report and great race.  way to brave that weather...25 degrees...no way to plan for THAT!



2014-11-17 12:22 PM
in reply to: mehaner

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Seattle
Subject: RE: HCA 8K

Great job Judi!!!!! 

2014-11-17 12:52 PM
in reply to: #5067778

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Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: HCA 8K

Way to race SMART and listen to your body, Judi.  Congrats on not doing a faceplant, too!  Congrats on a good race, and I love how megsmiles could be 'Megs miles' or 'Meg smiles'   Meg was surely smiling on you during the race.

2014-11-17 1:13 PM
in reply to: #5067778

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Master
6595
50001000500252525
Rio Rancho, NM
Subject: RE: HCA 8K

Ran with what you had, not what you wanted to have. I like it! I'll have to remember that.

2014-11-18 9:02 AM
in reply to: rrrunner

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Member
2098
2000252525
Simsbury, Connecticut
Subject: RE: HCA 8K
I had to go back and double check I read those temps right! DAYUM! Way to push though!
2014-11-18 12:10 PM
in reply to: mtnbikerchk

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Master
3870
200010005001001001002525
Subject: RE: HCA 8K

Well done, Judi!  Glad you got out and had fun in some brrrrrrfect weather.



2014-11-24 2:50 PM
in reply to: laffinrock

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Master
9705
500020002000500100100
Raleigh, NC area
Subject: RE: HCA 8K

Nice job!  Way to race smart! :-D

2014-11-25 10:47 AM
in reply to: #5067778

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Regular
980
500100100100100252525
Caerphilly, Wales, uk.
Subject: RE: HCA 8K
Nice to see you've got your running mojo back. Well done Judi.
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