Monday, April 26, 2010

Joe Conway Memorial 5K Run

If it's Monday, it must be time for another race recap, right? The Joe Conway Memorial 5K Run was held in Traditions, which is a chichi fanunu country club neighborhood...and home, apparently, to the only hills of our part of Texas (more on those hills later). Although severe thunderstorms had been predicted for Saturday morning, they didn't materialize, and we had absolutely gorgeous weather - blue skies, cool temperatures, low humidity...perfect for running 3.1 miles!

This was a fun run right from the beginning - I had my favorite running buddy, Jenny, with me, along with Brad, Linda, her son Reagan and several others from my fitness group. We got our t-shirts and bibs, and goodie bags that contained a bunch of coupons for free food from local restaurants (and a free cookie from McAlister's Deli - yum). The organizers were very friendly and I felt like a welcome part of our local running community.

I decided to give my One More Mile shirt another chance for this race - you know, the shirt that I wore for the Dansby's Duo? The one that I didn't think would be taken so literally? The one that said "If it weren't for me you'd have no one to pass" - and EVERYONE passed me on the first 5K? Yeah, that shirt. Actually, I had called it my bad luck shirt and was ready to give it to someone (anyone!) who wanted it, but Kelly convinced me that both the shirt and I were fine (she is so encouraging!) so I wore it. And funny thing...while we were at the starting line, people remembered me from the Duo and were commenting on the shirt! Guess who I ended up next to? The older man with the knee brace - the one who I *thought* I would be kind to and run with? Yes, by George, it was him - and his name really is George! I told him that story - he got a good laugh. Said he really didn't run that fast...but once the race began, that was the last I saw of him until it was over, when I saw him leaving in his car...with an oval "26.2" sticker on his back window. Uh huh, I've got your number, Mr. Marathon Man!

Since it was old home week at this race, it was only fitting that I would also be standing next to - are you ready for this - Swirly-Patterned Tank Top woman! Yes - the woman who slowed down just enough during the last quarter mile of the first 5K so I could pass her and come in second-to-last! Her name is Susan and she is just as sweet as can be...I told her how I was plotting to let my husband complete the bike ride and then slink off to the car without doing the second 5K and she said she had contemplated doing the same thing! She did the entire duathlon by herself, and did complete all three events - great job, Susan!

The race started and right away I noticed something...we were running uphill! What the what?!? I live in the flatlands of Texas - where did this hill come from? Somehow, and I don't know what feat of engineering or nature or optical illusion managed this, but it felt like we ran uphill the entire race. Oh, I know we had little spurts of going downhill, but for the most part it was like we were the little engine that could, chugging up those hills going "I think I can, I think I can..." - every time I looked up, we were still climbing! We actually had a really good pace time - Jenny and I varied between 10:30 and 11:30 for the first couple of miles, which was pretty fast for us. Then the last mile, and our version of Heartbreak Hill hit. You are supposed to shorten your stride while running uphill, and I was - at one point it felt like I was one tic above walking. That mile-long hill was a killer! But we ran (I am loosely calling it that, since we didn't officially stop to walk) the entire way, turned the corner to the street toward the finish, and ahhh...it was downhill, finally!

Now here is where it gets funny and ironic. Guess who we caught up to around the three-mile mark? Susan! Hadn't seen her since the start...and then Jenny and I kicked it into high gear (we had to, it was finally downhill) and once again, I passed her right at the end - sorry, Susan! Linda's son Reagan was waiting to run us in to the finish - have I mentioned how much I love my fitness group? Well I do. Anyway, it was a fun race to the finish - my time was 37:06, which was pretty good considering all of the hills.

And now, the pictures!

Jenny and I - so glad she was running this race with me!Brad, Linda, Reagan, Jenny and I chillin' before the race.And we're off! Right from the start we were running uphill!Brad at the finish line - I wonder, what must it be like to run so fast that there is no one around you?Here comes Linda, with a wave for the paparazzi!Speedy Reagan coming in for the finish - he ran the race in under 30 minutes!Here's where Jenny and I caught up to Susan...And here's Reagan on the sidelines, yelling for us to RUN!Not the greatest angle because the man in white is blocking us, but I like this picture because we are really running fast!Finish line! (You can see Susan behind us).Done - whew! We were spent!I got Susan to pose for a picture after - and please note the fresh fruit that the organizers provided for us (no greasy tacos from Jack in the Box, Dow Live Earth!).
Linda, Jenny, Reagan and I - the GLOW run team reunited!

Lastly, here's a shout out to my pit crew, who not only took the pictures, but held Brad's and Jenny's car keys while they ran (and also inadvertently my Shot Bloks - I forgot to eat my pre-race candy!). One of these days I really have to make Jeff an official pit crew t-shirt. Thanks for getting me to the race on time!

30 comments:

  1. I know I say this all the time, Friend, but you inspire me.

    No matter WHAT YOUR MANTRA IS WHILE RUNNING :) ---- you do it.

    xo xo

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  2. Great recap, great race and way to bounce back! As always, your enthusiasm for your life, health and fitness just jumps off the page. I admire your ability to meet and greet all these new running friends. Way to go!

    Have a great week and thanks for all the great support on my house adventure.

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  3. I'm glad you are having fun doing this and that you have such a great support system in place!
    Love the recaps almost like being there and great pics too!

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  4. Awesome! Wear that shirt proudly - as I said before Dead Last Finish trumps Did Not Finish every. single. time!

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  5. Another one for the books...I'm so happy for you and your spirit to get out there among the crowds and gut it out during the crowdless miles too. I've got to get mentally up for that kind of an event. Congratulations.

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  6. Yay!! Another successful race for you :D

    I love fun races - makes you mark that one down to do again next year!

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  7. Love your race recaps. Makes me feel like I'm there. Having good people around you really does make a difference!

    Have a great week!

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  8. Yeah, Shelley!!! Wow, you did great AND with hills! I love the recap. Sounds like a reunion of runners. You know you run a lot of races when you start recognizing people from previous races. I think that's so cool.

    Congratulations on a fantastic time. I love reading your recaps. :)

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  9. Shelley, you look really slim in all these photos!

    And hills...its hard for me to NOT automatically stop and walk when I get to the uphill parts. So good for you!

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  10. 5Ks with hills? That's just pure evil. But you killed it...good completion time!

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  11. You are doing great.. I am so jealous of you being able to run a 5k.. I love your pictures and you are a inspiration to me. Keep it up.

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  12. It's nice you had a friend to run with.

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  13. I love it!

    You're definitely a team runner. This report has so much more enthousiasm than the last one where you had to run alone.

    I also love it that you're making new running friends and see the same people at different races. I'm running all across the country so I don't have that.

    Great achievement Shelley, be proud of yourself and your hub is the greatest! He must be proud of you too.

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  14. LOVE love LOVE the t-shirt! Congrats and hugs, Kirsten

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  15. Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I JUST started exercising for the first time in 5 years (bad broken leg, dead fiance, drinking problem, etc.) and I can walk/run my 5K in under 45 minutes and I swore that when I could pretty much run the whole thing, I would sign up and yesterday, my girlfriend was all, "There's one at the end of May!" And I said, "Oh no! That's too soon!" And well, the whole breakfast table cajoled me into entertaining the idea and whereas I'm SUPER EXCITED, I'm nervous, too! But I'm going to DO IT! I AM! Your recap helps me know I can.

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  16. Great job! I am trying to avoid 5K's with any hills for my first few. :) I think it is great that you ran into so many people from past races!

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  17. Ha, I can't believe the same cast of characters were there!!

    And that 10:30 pace - you were smoking in my book!

    Great time at a great event. And I agree - fresh fruit is way better than a greasy taco at the end! :D

    Great recap as usual - you are becoming an old pro!!

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  18. I just wanted to tell you how awesome I think it is that you have run so many races in the last few weeks :)

    Happy Monday!

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  19. Why such a big pit crew for such a small body?
    You have taken this ball and run with it, lady.
    ;-)

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  20. Love your after-race glow :) So when you gonna do a 10K? Half-mari? Hmmm???

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  21. Congrats on a great race! Love your attitude...your recap was enthousiastic and fun to read and the pics were awesome!

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  22. Yeah to your pit crew. What a fun post, so many smiles and so much movement!! You've made running, exercise and movement FUN for so many, Shelley. I love it!

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  23. You inspire me every day Shelley. Congrats you are a total rock star!!! BTW you are looking fabulous!

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  24. Loved the race recap! Sounds like lots of fun! I am jealous of your pit crew and running friends :)

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  25. You are really blowing me away with all these 5K's your doing, Ms. Runner Girl!!!! And you always look so happy in your pics!!! :)

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  26. I'm proud to tell you that she's 11 weeks old, brown/black, adorable and she's ours. Curious? Visit my blog and you'll find out :)

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  27. I loved your recap! Congrats on passing Susan again, lol! The pictures are great, you have great running form!!!

    Congratulations on another great race!!!

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  28. That is definitely a GGOD LUCK shirt; you better keep it!

    (But if you ever do want to give it up, I will take it off your hands. LOL)

    Congrats on another awesome race!

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