Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Armadillo Dash 5K Recap!

On Sunday, I ran the Armadillo Dash 5K for the third time (last year I ran the half marathon).  I have great affection for this race because it was the second-ever 5K that I ran, back in 2010.  The organizers have improved logistics each year; parking was easy and the race even started on time.  The only thing that could have been better (besides my massive unpreparedness to actually run) would have been the weather, but of course that is out of their control.

The weather.  Oh Texas...your weather is just SO special.  Thunderstorms were forecast for race day.  As it turned out, it was 68 degrees with 100% humidity when we started running.  Nothing like slogging through thick, wet air.  It rained a little before the race began, but Amy and I put on visors and the rain stopped, so we kept them on for insurance.  Hey, it worked for us, but the half marathoners, who were on the course for a lot longer, got blasted with heavy rain after a while.  At least the thunder and lightening held off - I can't imagine being out in the open if that had happened.  Scary and dangerous, to say the least.
It started raining before the race began so we put on the visors and boom - ran stopped.  This picture cracks me up because Amy and I look pretty pleased with our visor/rain stoppage powers!

Like I said, I went into this race not having run for a week, and being really light on the miles even before that.  I pretty much had zero expectations except that I knew I'd finish.  Amy and I started out the race running 3:1 intervals with Cary (our runner/knitter friend), and between the weather and my un-conditioning, it was a challenge.  At the two mile mark I switched up the intervals to 1:1 and felt a lot better - looking back, I probably should have started out with that and then switched to the 3:1 intervals - or not, depending on how I was feeling.  Oh well.  We had a fun time - Amy's six-year-old daughter Abby was running the race with her little friend and her friend's mother, so we were kept entertained by them for quite a while.  Even with the crummy weather, a lot of people still showed up to race, although I saw some people with half marathon bibs running the 5K, because ugh, that weather.  Near the last half mile, Cary went on and finished ahead of us but it was fun to run with her for most of the race.

Jeff was our official photographer (since he's still on the injured list) but I can tell that he's out of practice, as there were a lot of blurry shots.  Here's what made the cut:
Before the race, with a sleepy Abby (poor thing had to be woken up super early)
The start - Jeff missed us in the crowd but we saw him and caught his attention.  Abby is running behind us (with her pink jacket tied around her waist).  Within the first quarter mile her shoe had come untied and the jacket was abandoned (her friend's mom carried it for the duration - she was walking the 5K with the girls), but nothing seemed to faze her.
 Coming in for the finish!
Love that we are in sync with our steps.
 Proof that I finished, LOL.  The official pictures just went online yesterday - I usually order one from this race because for whatever reason, their photographers make me look decent (oh, the horrible race pics I could - but won't - post...).
Abby and her friend (who was a fantastic cheerleader the entire race) finishing - girl power!!!

After the race we zipped over to Blue Baker for breakfast and lots of hot coffee.  As we drove home, it started pouring rain.  The route for the half marathon goes right by our neighborhood, so we got to see firsthand the runners gutting it out in the rain.  I think Jeff was a little relieved that he didn't end up having to run this race after all!

25 comments:

  1. Looks like you had fun! I love your shoes! I usually start out with a 3:1 and bump back to 1:1 but my last race I started with a 1:1 and kept it all the way through. It was the perfect pace.

    Your race photo is great! I would definitely purchase it.

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    1. I read your recap - you had a great race with those 1:1 intervals! :)

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  2. Looks like you had a lot of fun indeed, you and Amy look so happy at the start. Glad you kept is safe during the race. I don't mind running in the rain for training but on race day it's just not fun if it's raining.

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    1. I'm the opposite - I figure if I've signed up for the race, I'm going to run it, even if it's raining. But if I wake up hearing rain when I'm supposed to do a short training run, that is usually a no go for me.

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  3. Sounds like a great race. I think Jeff got some pretty good picture!

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    1. He did, but I was bummed that the group shot of our running club peeps was blurry.

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  4. PROOF that you finished LOL! It's always something with a race isn't it? My friend Pete said the way you have your best race ever is that everything finally aligns... weather, health, shoes, clothes, etc. I think that's rare. In fact, I'm still waiting for it to happen.

    You guys did a great job and I like that you run for fun together, no matter what. Hope Jeff feels better soon and can get back to racing.

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    1. Run for fun - that's the most important thing to remember.

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  5. I love the girl power!! We have a race in our town in the middle of March - it's a half marathon and it's the first "official" half marathon of the season, so it's quite weird to see so many people run it in our small town. It's been 70 degrees and gorgeous, and it's also been 20 degrees and snowing. I think this year snow will win! Great job!

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    1. I cannot imagine having to keep up my half training in your weather. Kudos to your town's runners!

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  6. Love that action shot where you guys are in sync. You really look like you're very serious about your racing there!

    The t-shirt is pretty neat too. We saw a little armadillo at the zoo, but Brett wouldn't touch it. Okay, I wouldn't touch it either, but it was because I couldn't reach over the kids!

    : ( Waaa. I miss Blue Baker!

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    1. LOL, we are serious racers! ;) ;) ;)

      I might touch a baby armadillo, but I've had adults in my front yard and they are SCARY!

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  7. I wish I would of ran the 5K....that half was a tough one for me. It was so humid...YUCK! The rain was actually cooling, so I will not complain about it. That was a hilly course too. Glad to have some time off of being in serious training mode!

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    1. You did great! I'm glad you will get to run shorter distances on Saturdays now - we'll see you more! :)

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  8. Lady power!! Woo Hoo! I love that T-shirt, too.

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    1. It's so fun to see females encouraging each other. :)

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  9. WTG Shelley! Looks like a great finish, and how fun to watch the young girls participate like that! The breakfast afterwards makes it all worth it :-)

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  10. Oh, Jeff! I hope he is able to get back at it soon.
    And, insurance visors. Love it! Usually when I remember my sunglasses there's no need for them.

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  11. My first thought when I see these pictures was to wonder where your coats, hats and gloves were?! 68 sounds nice, but humidity and thunderstorms, not so much. I'm glad you had a fun time - it's so great to have a friend to run races with, even when you have to change your pacing or intervals. And how cool that you two were in sync! Also, Abby running is so cute! I always love when I see kids racing (passing me, of course - where do they get all of that energy??) - 3 miles must be so far for them!

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    1. It was nice to not have to layer up for that race, I'll say that!

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  12. Aww, I am happy you had a good time despite the rain and humidity and rest! Man, what weird weather we've all had this year! Makes me wonder what the summer is going to be like! :-/

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    1. Yes the weather has been weird, but we are due for a perfect summer after putting up with all of this cold/ice/snow/yuck. RIGHT??

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  13. Well done Shelley and little Abby, what a star! A champion in the making.

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