"You're a lucky man..." Fueled by Fine Wine Half Recap

This recaps the Fueled by Fine Wine Half-Marathon Inaugural Run on July 11, 2010 at Dundee, Oregon. It was hubby’s email to our friend who didn’t run the race. My unofficial time was 2:24:15. Not my best but not my worst either. It was definitely a challenging course but I would like to run it again next year and properly train for the hills. Hubby said, “I’ll cheer you on.” I’m sure he’ll change his mind.
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Subject: you are a lucky man...

…for not having run the Fueled by Fine Wines ½. In a word it was “absolutelyf*ingbrutal.” I got the impression the organizers had never run a day in their lives, although they struck upon the idea of a “fun run through wine country” and perhaps a way to market local brands.

Miles 1-6 – mostly flat, scenic, pleasant. Miles 6-8 were a steady 7% climb. Few people were able to make it without walking at least once. But the hills didn’t stop there. At the top of 8 you dropped steeply down (reminding you that you had quads), then the hills continued up/down/up/down for the rest of the course. No one ran mile 11 to 12. No one. It was up hill, hot, and by then, most everyone’s legs were spent. There was even a brutal hill to the 13 mile mark, which then turned to a steep drop down to the finish line. Water stations seemed a little too far apart and understaffed.

I had hoped for a 1:50. Ha. 2:12:51. To further put the race in perspective, the winning overall time for Helvetia was 1:12. Here – 1:36.

Anyway, the worst day running is better than the best day of sitting around on the couch. The wine tasting afterwards was nice with lots of wines, a complimentary glass and, admittedly, the views were outstanding. It conceivably could be done again, but only after significant and dedicated hill training.

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start and finish

the kind of sign you don't want to see at mile 12

 

the loot

Dundee hills

perspective of the altitude courtesy of my friend's heart rate monitor

enjoying some free wine with hubby!

Nancy, me, SoloRunner

Gratification Comes In Many Forms

I was telling myself when I close to finishing my run that today's trail run at Leif Erikson (Forest Park) was probably one of my most ungratifying long runs.  First of all, I was tired from the get go.  Second, my Garmin lost the satellite signal at least four times which fouled up the distance (I was supposed to run 14 miles but ended up running 14.44 miles.)  Third, my Chi was totally whacked even though I was doing ChiRunning.  Fourth, I was frustrated how slow I was going even going downhill.  Ackk!  Today wasn't my day.

I was about less than half a mile to finish my run when I saw a guy and a lady (mid-20s) running in front me.  I caught up with them at the intersection of NW 23rd and Thurman waiting for the light to turn green.  When the light turned green, they started to move but the lady ropped her cellphone.  The guy told the lady that she dropped her cellphone but the lady wasn't paying attention.  Instead she was sort of walking backwards so I picked up her cellphone and gave it to the guy.  The lady was already sitting on the curb with her hands on her face telling her friend that she doesn't feel well.  I should have caught the green light but I didn't because I was convinced that she wasn't looking good.  The lady then start to fall and I wasn't quick enough to catch her but her head brushed on my hands that the impact wasn't that hard when she landed on the street.  Her friend was a little shocked and you can tell he doesn't know what to do.  I told the guy to elevate her feet and I rested her head on my lap.  I checked whether she was breathing, and she was, thank goodness!  I was amazed about how other people offered help.  One SUV driving by thew a bottled water towards us.  Another man stopped to offer help and he happense to be an EMT (another thank goodness!).  The EMT man checked her pulse and said her pulse was 90.  I don't know whether that was good or bad but the EMT man didn't seem alarm so I suppose it was good.  An ambulance was called amidst all of these.  We continued to elevate her feet and make sure she was breathing.  After a couple of minutes she regain consciousness and she was able to sit again.  I gave her the bottled water and another woman gave her a cookie.  Finally, the ambulance arrived!  Yay!  She was eating a cookie and sipping water by the time I left her.

After I finish my run and thought about the help I did for that lady, my being slow today had a purpose.  For what I thought was ungratifying run turned out to be my most gratifying runs.  It's true, gratification comes in many forms.

SoloRunner Events Inaugural 10-Miler

I didn’t register for SoloRunner’s inaugural 10-miler this morning. Instead, I was a volunteer stationed at the intersection just past the 4-mile, 6-mile and 8-mile markers. It was 6:45 a.m. by the time I got to my designated spot. I got my Starbucks venti-soy-no water-chai and dreaded the fact that I didn’t bring a book. I’m glad I didn’t because I had a blast cheering the runners on, directing them, and especially taking their photos. I also had the opportunity to watch the fasties go zoom by effortless! I was on that spot for 3 hours and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Here's to all runners and walkers!



I tried to take as much photos as I can using my cell. Even without their bib numbers, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th placers were easy to identify. And of course, the Sweeper—she knows who she is. Otherwise, here are the runners and walkers with their bibs on: 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 24, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 41, 44, 49, 50, 56, 57, 59, 61, 62, 66, 67, 69, 71, 74, 75, 76, 79, 81, 84, 85, 83, 92, 93, 94, 97, 99, 100, 104, 111, 112, 117, 118, 121, 126, 136, 138, 139, 142, 143, 137, 145, 147, 148, 151, 154, 158, 159, 162, 168, 172.

Hagg Lake 50K Trail Run

I paced my friend, her brother and their friend who ran the 50K last Saturday, February 20, 2010. I was pacing and taking pictures of them as well as the scenery during the last 10 miles. It was a gorgeous day. Actually, gorgeous was understatement to describe that day. I have not participated in a trail run race so, running with them gave me a preview of the course. The course was muddy as expected and lots of hills! I will definitely put this event on my event calendar next year. The question is, 25K or 50K? We’ll see... In the meantime, here’s a photo video:

SURF CITY 2010

Here is my race review, well really race video. I make video's better then I write. So enjoy and hope to see you at my next race April 11, 2010 Santa Cruz, Calif.

Dirdy Birdy 2009

Dirdy Birdy is Portland’s muddiest 5K run held at the Portland International Raceway. Watch the video and see how fun it was! Make sure you participate next year!

Thanks to Celia of Road Runners Sports for the awesome photos.

There's Something About PDX Mary!

This year will be my fourth consecutive year to run Portland Marathon. I think, there’s something about PDX Mary that I PR’d every time I run it.... well... so far.

In 2006, it was my first year to run it and happens to be my first marathon. I don’t remember hitting the wall but I remember mile 21 when my gluteus maximus (aka buttocks) cramped and it was a struggle from there all the way to the finish line. I finished at 5:45:39.

In 2007, I followed the same training as I did in 2006 incorporating some speed workout. This year was worst than 2006 because my IT bands started to bother me at mile 18 and, of course, it was a struggle from there to the finish line. Despite the misery I felt for the remaining of the run and to my surprise, I PR’d and finished at 5:31:40.

Last year, I caught a bad cold and headache three days before the race. While treating my cold and headache vigorously, I also told myself, “Come hell or high water, I’ll finish that race.” I ran with a little bit of cold but ran conservatively and I finished at 5:03:41.

In May this year, I ran the Newport Marathon and finished at 5:05:14 so, I did not PR.

May be PDX Mary will be nice to me this year and let me PR again. We'll see...

Run on friends!
meechellee