Magnificent Mile, 9/13/09

Maybe I should lead up to this race. After softball Finals were over, I decided on Labor Day weekend that perhaps I had better start to train for the upcoming road races. Not that I had not tried. Oh, yes, I had tried. But I had not gotten far. Less than a block and my left knee would balk. Since I did not want to screw it up for the softball competition, I stopped trying anything which used slow twitch or distance muscles. I stuck with just running bases and in the outfield.

But now decision time had arrived. Either I was going to stop running road races or I wasn't. What better test than to go out to Umstead State Park and its hills and see what happens. So I did. Labor Day weekend I went two days in a row (dummy, eh?) and jogged-walked four miles. On the first day I had previously walked the same area with my dog, who was not too keen to walk the hills either. I took Reedy Creek Lake trail (downhill but on return an ugly uphill), up Reedy Creek trail to Cedar Ridge and back. Ugh. Both days four miles roundtrip and 45 minutes.

I felt it later in the week.

By the time of the Mag Mile, I was not too optimistic about how I would do. I expected to walk somewhere within the mile and not once but maybe more. I feared having to drop to a walk by the time I hit the first corner of the Capital. (The race goes down Hillsborough St in Raleigh, around the Capital and back up Hillsborough. Since it is an NC USATF Championship Mile event, with cash awards for the top three men and top three women, lots of whoop de do runners come out.It was 81 degrees and sunny. They ran the men's race first and zounds! The fellow who came in first, Bobby Mack, was really moving, coming in at 4:10. The next fourteen men (not all listed as USATF members)came in under five minutes. 187 men raced.

I lined up maybe eight rows or so back since I did not want to be trampled. When the race began I concentrated on getting out of the way and moderating my pace so I could at least get to the Capital before burning out at my ever so slow pace. Yes, when we reached the Capital and began the curve to the first full street around it, I flagged but did not stop. I forced myself to keep moving faster than a walk. Up the street and around the curve to the back side of the Capital. People passed. The crowd had long since cleared. Around the next curve. I remembered that this is where I dropped to a walk last year. Not this time. Slow, but still not walking. This is always the point at which I think we are going to run diagonal back to the beginning of Hillsborough, but no! Yet another corner to take and then, finally, I see up ahead the runners turning onto Hillsborough. A forever slog for me.

Those finishing blocks on Hillsborough seem to be made of infinitesimal inclines that only I can sense. At last I can see the finishing mat. But there is nothing left to give a final sprint. Nothing. But I did finish and I did not walk.

The winning woman was Kasia Sujkowski at a time of 5:03 and she was closely followed by Toni Salucci who had the same time except for maybe a thousandth of a second or so. The next 18 finished under 6 minutes. 164 women ran the race. My time was 8:50. As it turned out, this was my fastest time of the three times I have run this race. Probably because I did not walk while going around the Capital.

Great Raleigh Road Race July 4th 4 miler

"We take the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing liberty."
George Washington

This year the race was lowered from 5 miles to 4. No matter. I still bonked. This time just after the 3 mile marker. I turned onto Hillsborough St. for the last mile and was wiped from the minor incline on W. Park St.

The water stop was the clincher. I slowed to a walk, took the cup of water and kept walking. I could not even drink because I could not slow my breathing enough to even sip. Eventually I drank and resumed a slow jog. But I knew I had blown it in terms of being competitive in my age group. No doubt I walked for at least two minutes. And that was not enough. I walked yet again one more time within that last mile.

However, I did sprint the last 20 meters or so when a runner came up on my left. Thank you runner! I managed therefore to finish in under 40 minutes which was really my goal. Not by much, but still ....

The weather was not a problem,low humidity and temperature and the route took us through several interesting residential areas.

There were 350 runners and NCRC had lots of great volunteers out there.

The fastest male at 15 years old was Thomas Graham with a time of 20:56; the fastest female was Brennan Liming (33) with a time of 23:15. The time of the median finisher was 34:13. And 76 year-old Edwin Harris had a finish time of 30:48!

Komen Race for the Cure 5K

June 13, 2009. The 4 a.m. alarm time was almost the worst part of this race. The dog ate, we went out for a brief walk and I left by 5 a.m. I got the first bus out of the RBC parking lot for the short ride to Meredith College, the site of the event.

We took a team photo at 6:15. Some of us were doing the competitive 5K, some the non-competitive open 5K. I lined up for the 7 a.m. start with one competitor in my age group and maybe 4 or 5 rows behind the one who usually wins the age group. We were up near the front. I am not really keen on being that far forward, especially in a big race. They said several times that if you run slower than an 8 minute mile, line up towards the back. I don't run 8 minute miles! But a competitor who always beats me lined up rows in front of me.

Fearing trampling, I almost moved to the back (as I have done in the past in some races.) But, I didn't and the race started. I stayed close to the right so that fast runners could pass. However, there were so many runners and masses were passing that not too far from the start of the race, a young lady wearing a pink top (or was it blue?) and white shorts pushed me to the side as she passed and weaved through those in front of me. She was moving quite fast. Within a minute, a lady behind me and to the right began falling forward. I glanced back hearing the noises and saw her, arms outstretched, heading for a nasty fall. I worried about the possibility she might get trampled and slowed for a fraction, thinking of stopping. I saw people on the curb and a few nearby runners lean down to her. Meanwhile I kept going to avoid being run over myself. I expect she either tripped or someone stepped on her heel.

It was about 70 degrees and humid.

The race proceeded up Hillsborough St which had a slight incline, left on Gardner and then left onto Clark St. Clark was partially down and uphill. There was still a sizable pack of people running with me, so I imagine there were a lot of runners in this race. We turned right onto Brooks and I began to feel the strain. Brooks has a gradual uphill incline. Somewhere along here, we passed the half way mark and began going uphill again. I dropped to my first walk about 3/4 of the way up that hill.

Between Barmettier, Dixie Trail and the return towards Meredith on Clark, I dropped to a walk three more times! I am wondering if my almost 5 mile trot on the hills of Johnston Lake the preceding Thursday night was too much for this old crone. (The east path around the lake has numerous short but challenging inclines towards the latter half of the path.)

By the time I finally saw the Finish and the horde awaiting the 7:45 start of the Open 5K, I was wiped. I barely managed to speed up for the finish. In fact, I did not speed up.

I don't know that I shall do this race again. Too many people. Too much jockeying for front position. If I do do it, I won’t consider any kind of age group placement and rather, start in the back of the pack and just track my chip time. Sometimes, it isn’t worth it to try to be competitive within your age group when you can't really run as fast as the front of the pack.

And there is very little chance that I will ever run fast enough (over a distance) to make up for another's possible gun time start advantage. It really is myself I am running against, any way. The satisfaction comes with a better chip time and more than that, how it felt to run the race. Was I exhausted? Was it a real strain? Or, was I able to run it feeling a bit uncomfortable at times, but without dropping to a walk at any time? That is really the objective.

This is not track, after all.

Chip time 29.39.61 Gun time 29.50.28 1348 of 2623. Lots of people equals lots of folks crossed start minutes after front runners. Chip times would be far better for those folks than gun time.

Run for the Haw! 5K

Graham is where my softball team is based. It is a neat little town. Cooke field has three well tended softball fields as well as tennis courts and picnic areas and a walking path. Graham theatre is renown for miles for its entertaining movie announcements. Today, June 6, 2009, Graham held the first Run for the Haw! to benefit the development of the Haw River Trail.


Up at 5 a.m. so I could get the dog taken care of and get to Graham by 7:30. I made it by 7:20. The race started on Goley Street at 8 a.m. near the corner by the Graham Middle School softball field. It was overcast, but warm. The sun came out almost right away. After the slight incline along Pine street adjacent to the cemetery, and out to Main, the course is mostly flat. It traverses downtown Graham on Main St into a residential area, with a turnaround at Parker and then back on N Maple before cutting back through the residential area back to the school around the track to the Finish.

Due to the excessive rain yesterday, there were a few mats out covering the worst of the mud spots around the field and the finish line was denoted by a large SWIM FINISH banner.

I started slowly and jogged the entire way, huffing away. Nearing the school on the return, I came upon another runner who heard me huffing and told me to come on along. I said not to worry, I wouldn't be passing. We jogged to the street adjacent to the ball fields and track. Not realizing I still had the track to go around, I sped up and passed the runner and came onto the field only to be directed to the track.

Poof. The air went out of me and I dropped to a walk. The lady runner passed and encouraged me again, but I continued walking around the first curve before forcing a jog. There was that lady, who passed another in front of us, and three ahead, a lady in a red singlet. In the final stretch, the lady in red and the encouraging lady crossed the finish. I sped up and passed one lady, came into the finish area and slowed, figuring they were going to rip off the number tag (i.e. order of finish tally). But no, there was a guy clocking us in on a device who told me to keep going. So I lost a few seconds there. Nonetheless, this was a PR for me. I expect that is because Graham is a heck of a lot flatter than Raleigh. At least downtown. Still, I should have pushed harder at the end instead of flopping like that. Especially after having watched MARATHON CHALLENGE last night.

The 84 runners consisted of a mix of avid (pro) runners (Missy Foy, the Women's winner) and casual, such as myself. One man said he had not run a race in 15 years, the last being a marathon. He and his pal set off ahead of me and were well along with the main pack. However, I came upon him on Main street, beyond RT 49 (Harden St) intersection, and he had to drop to a walk. He may have resumed running later, but didn't pass me. I do know he was happy to be out there. Me too.

Missy Foy won the women's (38) in 19.45, and Graham Crawford the men's (46) in 17.41. The median time was 27.20. I was 15 of 38 women with a time of 28.37. (50/84 overall)

Inside Out Sports Classic Half Marathon 2009

May 17, 2009. This event is put on by North Carolina Roadrunners Club (NCRC) in conjunction with Inside Out Sports. I had never run it. (I figured you had to be crazy to run Umstead.) This year the course was changed and much of it was run inside the State Park. The surface on Reedy Creek Bridle trail consists of fine packed granite screening. Soft on the knees.

The run started off of Weston Parkway at the Broadband.com office parking lot and proceeded across Weston, onto Old Reedy Creek Road which crosses over I-40 and then enters Umstead State Park on the Reedy Creek Bridle trail. This was followed to its far end at Turkey Creek Trail junction where there was a turnaround. Then, all the way back to near the I-40 overpass but with a veer at that point onto Black Creek Greenway, for about two miles before ending back in the parking lot. Oy! It was characterized as being "challenging".

I had not planned to run this race, or the corresponding IOS 10K which also traversed some of Umstead. Conflicts and not being a long distance runner my primary reasons for not even considering either. But, as things sometimes go, the conflict dissipated and I lost my senses and entered the Half.

The morning was dreary. Intermittent rain was predicted. I expect there were some who may have signed up who decided not to actually run. The race started at 7 a.m. During the wait I spoke to a lady who was stretching and learned a new stretch from her. (She won women's 3rd place.)

Off we started. By the time we got to the I-40 overpass, where there was a water stop, I had already thought at least twice about dropping down to a walk, but didn't. Yet. I bypassed the water but waved to the NCRC volunteers I knew who are real troopers .. as are all the other volunteers who came out, and later endured the rain. Let me not forget NCRC member Chris D who monitored the runners on the course on his bike, making sure all were okay.

The road became gravel with private homes. I wondered if I was the last runner, since the pack had disappeared. I stayed near a couple running in front of me. There were some behind who eventually passed, one lady I jogged with for a brief while said her Dad and brother were also running. I think they passed me later. In Umstead Park proper, the surface changed to the granite screening. Nice. I kept the couple in my sights. They were running easily at a comfortable pace, conversing as they ran. The sun came out for about 15 minutes. The temperature hovered around 70 degrees.

I had not been on this part of the Reedy Creek Bridle trail before. It was mostly flat with maybe small inclines. But I knew what was coming! Somewhere in here we passed the 10K turnaround marker. I thought, ten more miles! Once I got to the airport overlook, I was into familiar territory. The hills were beginning. They seemed to start gradually and as one progressed along RC Bridle trail, got increasingly longer or of steeper incline. The steeper sections were usually short and sometimes twisty. But it was the long, unending inclines that were killers.

I think it may have been after the airport overlook, but not much, that I saw the first male runner on his way back. He was massaging a cramped leg. I estimated he would finish not much more than a bit over an hour.

One lady whom I spent a lot of time running with or near (we ended the race one or two apart.) was encouraging and kept me going when I might otherwise have flagged. In fact, I did on and off. She ran ahead and I dropped to a walk. As I was going up the dreadful RC trail just beyond the junction with Reedy Creek Lake trail, she was coming back down. Eventually I caught up with her and we dragged ourselves to the end. It was her first Half. Kudos to her!


Any way, Reedy Creek Bridle trail after the junction with Reedy Creek Lake Trail is a bitch. Yep, I said that. It is not steep but just keeps going on and on up hill. (for about .96 of a mile) Even my dog takes time to sniff and slows down on it! I mostly walked, with a jog now and then. And we weren't even at six miles yet! Not until the water stop at the turnaround at Turkey Creek Trail (and that trail is a story in itself!). I dragged around the semi circle loop there, slurping water and forcing each foot to move to try to make it to the downhill portion.

I sympathized with those I saw still trudging up as I jogged back down. At this point, the couple I'd previously been following picked up their gait and they made it to the finish long before I did. I saw them going up a return hill as I entered the bottom. Smart runners, they'd saved it for the last half!

Sometime between my 7th and 9th mile, it began raining. Lightly as I neared mile 7, and then it became increasingly heavier. My Nike Lunars were soaked, my shorts heavily plastered to my legs. Thank heavens I thought to wear a running cap, which I rarely do. Puddles formed in the gullies at the edge of the trail. The folks at the water stop near Graylyn were dripping, but offered welcome water or Gatorade (this is where I took my first Gatorade.) Sometime after I passed the 10K turnaround sign, Chris rode by, mud streaked up his back from the bike wheel's revolutions. He was in his element and happy. He said I had about three miles to go. It was mostly flat here so I just kept on trudging, not thinking of time, just moving.

I had run out of the small bottle of Hammer (unflavored) Sustained Energy mix I'd made and had eaten about 6 Jelly Belly caffeine sports beans. (they also contain potassium and sodium.) This combination seems to work for me.

I was nearing my running pal as we approached the water stop at the I-40 overpass. She veered off to the right and I thought maybe there was a porter potty there she was heading for. Nope. That is where one connected to Black Creek Greenway. I did not realize that I still had two miles to go. My legs were weary. We came to a junction where we both hesitated (It had been hard to hear the race directions earlier because of nearby chatter) but we both sort of remembered not to veer off. By this time, it had stopped raining, but was still gray and misty.

When we came to yellow cones, the volunteers directed us straight onto the ending loop. 1.2 miles to go. I had been hoping to break my 2.29 Half Marathon time, but it did not seem likely. My legs were heavy and thighs aching. This was perhaps the longest 1.2 I have ever traversed. Flat but oh, boy. Walk, jog, walk. After we turned the loop and were heading back to the cones and the turn up hill towards Weston, I began non-stop jogging which lasted until I was about half up the final hill towards the street cross over. I had nothing left when I got on the short stretch of sidewalk towards the parking lot entry. That may have been the slowest walk ever! However, when I turned into the parking lot, which was downhill, a switch activated. Downhill kicked me in the butt to a full out sprint to the Finish.

This was the toughest Half I have done (as if I've so many before! Hah! ) but it turned out to be a personal record for me. Slow for most, but I am very happy with a time of 2.22.45. That is seven minutes faster than prior gun times, and about 5 faster than chip times. I finished 194 out of 228 runners. I think having run some of the NCRC March, April, and May fun Thursday night events helped. Despite the toughness (for me) I loved the event. Would I do it again? Maybe. But I might do the 10K next time!

The median time based on 228 runners, was about 2.01 (the 114th across finish line) There were 80 men and 57 women under 40 years old in the race. (114 men, 74 women under 50)

The male winner was Paul Potorti, 45, in 1.25.10 and the female winner was Yvonne Ou, 32, in 1.28.15

Oh, yes. A post note. (in case any one actually reads this) I tried using my Nike Sportband even though the display was kerplunk. I had tested it on a short run down the block, pushing the buttons the proper numbert of times and then uploading the result. It seemed to work Okay. So I used it on this run. Come home, eventually upload and find that I ran less than half a mile and it took me over an hour and a half to do so! In a parallel universe, maybe. So much for the Sportband.

Run for Our Heroes (late posting)

April 25, 2009. 9 a.m. This was the inaugural running of this event, run in honor of the 8, dating to 1922, fallen Raleigh officers. It was run as part of the Police Unity Tour and benefitted National Law Enforcement Officers memorial Fund. A memorial ceremony began the event. Prior to the race, Raleigh PD cadets in training did calisthenics in preparation for running, in formation, the 5K race.

Participating in these events is a surefire way to observe the changes going on in downtown Raleigh. A new parking deck near corner of Martin, an office or condo building under construction on Dawson, and another building off of Fayetteville being torn down.

from the course description at Run For Our Heroes
(the site is worth a visit. Great photos, especially of the start.)

The course starts near the Raleigh Police Department on Dawson St. just north of Hargett St., proceeds up Fayetteville St., and around the State Capitol, continues past Peace College and the Halifax Court area, continues past the Governor’s mansion, and then back into the downtown area where the race finishes in front of the Police Memorial on Hargett St. The course is mostly flat with only a few inclines and no major hills.

But long inclines!

We lined up on Dawson by Nash Square Park on a sunny morning. 80 degrees, low humidity. I looked ahead to see an uphill following the downhill start. There is nowhere, it seems, in Raleigh to not find or run a hill! I placed myself towards the middle-back of the pack. The RPD cadets lined up at the back. So, off we start. down Dawson then up to a right turn onto Davie and uphill to Fayetteville St. Somewhat steep. Then flat towards the Capital, around it and onto Wilmington, which is a gradual uphill. I managed to jog until the second water stop. Hearing the cadets in cadence behind me, and having runners close behind with no room to move over (parked cars) was incentive enough to keep moving longer and quicker than I otherwise might have.

There were spectators here and there. The course traverses business and residential and is a nice mix. The return route down Blount St. had a few inclines but was mostly flat. Nonetheless, I had almost nothing left at the end and only managed a short 3/4 effort sprint at the end. This, for me, was a tough course. Another runner, younger male, commented that it was all up with no down! I finished 220 out of 315 (runners) at 31.36 The median finish time was 28.25.

2009 Southeastern U.S. Masters

May 2, 2009. I had no great expectations for this event. I had not trained much (aching knee) and had been running road races, not sprints. I tried sprinting at a local track and had a dreadfully slow and exhausting time. So, I thought I would just go and get the experience since I had signed up some time ago.

I knew the quality of competitors would be high. I had heard about the event for years, but always had a softball practice conflict. Upon arrival, I saw one of my running buddies running the 1500 meter. 79 year old Thelma Wilson also ran that race. Other than for Philippa (Phil) Raschker (one of the top five athletes of ANY age), I was not familiar with the competitors. Raschker I had seen years before when she was in her 50s, competing in National Senior Games. She was a streak in the 100m race. She continues to set records now that she has reached 62.

I was able to watch Earl Fee, from Canada and in his eighties, break another World Record. He ran several races that day. He does not run like any 80 year old I have seen. He ran faster than others half his age. He also has a book out The Complete Guide to Running How to be a champion from 9 to 90

It was a warm, sunny day. My first race was a 100m. They mixed age groups to fill out the field. To my left was Sharon Warren (58) another World Masters Champion (2007 in the 60m and 200m) and way to the right was Phil Raschker. (10 gold medals at World Masters in Italy) To my immediate right was a lady in red, Ann Carter. When the race began, Raschker and Warren sped down their lanes and finished before the rest of us had gone a few steps. (Raschker in 14.41 seconds, Warren in 14.57 seconds) To put that in perspective, the Women's 2008 Olympics 100m was won by 21-year-old Shelley-Ann Fraser in 10.78 seconds.

I concentrated on staying with Ann Carter (seeing red in my peripheral vision) and just edged her out at the finish. (18.16 to her 18.46) However, in my age group I was beaten by Joann Sampson (17.98 seconds), who I had not even seen in a lane somewhere to my right.

After a rest and mingling with some of the runners I knew, I ran the 400m. Anything over 100m is an effort for me. I don't start fast and worry if I will finish. As it happened, I won the 400m in my age group with 1.39.30, but Jeanne Daprano, 72, ran it in 1.27.77

Next up was the 200m and Joann was amongst the competitors in my age group. She had told me that she has just begun running the 200m. This turned out to be a memorable race which I thought I'd lost to Joann even before the turn towards the last 100m,. She was already well ahead of me. I have written about this race elsewhere and so shall just say that I managed to come back and win by the incredibly small margin of 6/100th of a second! (39.66 to Joann's 39.72)

I finished the day by running the 800m. I only entered this one to be with my pals. Shall I say I hate it? This is another of those races for people with stamina. Not me. Thelma Wilson, I repeat, 79, was also in this event. (She had already run the 1500m earlier.) When the race (in my case, amble) started, I let everyone get in front of me. I only hoped to get around the track twice without dropping to a slow walk. My pal Angela was running with a cramped foot which acted up before we'd gone even one circuit. As we turned into the 2nd lap, I passed her and eventually in the final 100, I passed Barbara to win the 800m in my age group 4.11.14. But, remember Thelma? Thelma Wilson beat all of us with a time of 4.09.02

Angela's foot problem was probably due to lack of electrolytes. Next time we shall all bring at least a sports drink with potassium etc.

The fun thing about these events, win or lose, is of course running and surviving, and seeing your running pals. And watching the stars burn up the track.

Raleigh Rocks Half Marathon 3/28/09

I'd not done this half marathon before and, as usual, was apprehensive. First, there was the matter of getting there on time. Up at 5:30 and with a very cooperative dog I managed to get on the road by 6:30 and at the event in plenty of time to get my chip. I met a gentleman who said he'd trained for the two hills that occur behind the Raleigh Art Museum and was hoping to do a PR this day. (He told me later he had missed by just 12 seconds. He did get second in his very populated age group.)

It had rained all Friday night and was still overcast as we were between storms. A heavy thunderstorm was anticipated for the afternoon. However, it was warm. The provided tech shirt was more than sufficient. This being my 3rd half, I was doing it a bit differently. I had a modified fuel belt (as opposed to carrying a tiny bottle of Hammer Sustained Energy mix in my pocket.) which had a small pouch into which I had some energy jelly beans and threaded though the belt portion, one fuel bottle with the mix. I felt a bit dumb walking around with it, feeling like I was imitating someone who knew what they were doing or was just starting out. (Do you ever see big time runners with fuel belts? Usually you see them on runners doing the ultras etc. or on beginners who fear dropping from thirst.) I had used the mix one time before (in the tiny bottle) and it did not hurt, so why not? Maybe it helped. One nice lady in the hotel lobby helped me get the belt tight enough so it wouldn't bounce around. She was running with a bronchial cold that she was just starting to get over and planned to take it easy. Another wanted to know if there was a porta potty along the route (yep - at mile 6.)

One other change was that I planned to jog 15 minutes, then walk two and continue that trend as long as I could.

People lined up for the start on two separate blocks, haphazardly. No pace related sections. Some were on Davie street (and would turn onto Wilmingon for the start) and some on Wilmington. I think most on Davie had crossed the Start mat before I got to it. (In the end, I found I had been 2.5 minutes behind those who were right at the Start line. It took me that long after the starting horn to get to the Start mat. )

The race went up Wilmington, left onto Edenton, where a live band -- one of five or six along the route --helped us along, and then left onto I think Cabarrus, over to Wilmington again and back up to Edenton and left again. The race continued on Edenton to the merge with Hillsborough and on up to Blue Ridge Road to the Art Museum, back around the back portion and alongside or behind Meredith College before eventually returning back onto Hillsborough and down to the right jog onto Salisbury and left onto Fayetteville Street and the Finish near the Sheraton.

I did okay through the first loop but noticed that my Nike Sport Band was off in terms of distance recorded. It was short. (In the end, it was off by over a mile and half - short.) At mile one, it seemed my time was around a 10:56 pace. My 15 minutes elapsed somewhere after we had crossed Davie street again and before mile 2. I didn't feel as if I needed to walk but did so anyway. A plan is a plan until it is time to break it. One lady I encountered was doing a five minute jog with a one minute walk between. She said this was about a 13 minute pace.

I was still adhering to my plan when we turned onto Hillsborough and I skipped water stop one. By the time we got to stop two, I was already out of synch in terms of 15 jog/2 walk. I was about 3 or 4 minutes into the run part but decided to start the walk so I could imbibe some of my mix and chase it down with the water. Broke the plan and from that point on, it was about half and half as to sticking to it.

I did not find Hillsborough as challenging as in the past (maybe because I was running slower and not trying to finish a 5K!) At around mile 6, near NCSU Vet School fields, the porta potty awaited at least two women lined up outside. Fortunately, I did not need it and kept on going (I have yet to use one during an event.) By Blue Ridge Rd I could feel tightness in my hips. I slogged along. I met one young lady who asked if there were any races in Raleigh without hills. (No.) She was looking forward to seeing her children at the Finish line so they could see what Mommy had done. (I saw her afterwards and she was lined up with her kids for a photo, Happy as could be.)

When we hit the path behind the Art Museum I was in the jog mode. We passed a reclining stone statue of a pair of legs (butt to path) that some were debating as to whether it was a cow's legs or something else. Surely, the man was jesting. No doubt it was the rear view of a reclining woman's lower half. Shortly after came the hills the runner had told me about earlier. I decided to walk up them. It did not take much convincing of myself to do so. I knew I would grab some water at mile 10, and just kept that in mind. It probably was nearing 70 degrees by then, still overcast, but with an occasional peek of sun.

By the time I was on Hillsborough again, it became a mental thing, especially before the bridge where Edenton merged. I decided to try to keep jogging regardless of the 15 minute rule. It became harder to do so after passing Second Empire Restaurant. I could see the Capital aways ahead and knew I still had a jog around it and then the trek down Fayetteville still to go. I managed to slow jog my way until about a block and a half from the finish, where I increased my pace and by the Finish was in a full out sprint - well, as much of a sprint that I could do at that point.

What was great was that my breathing all along was fine and my legs did not hurt at the end. (A modified ice bath after walking the dog two miles upon return home helped keep it mostly that way. Epson salts the next day and the best of all: horse liniment starting on day 2 and ending day 3, erased any residual ache.)

As for results: essentially, I had the same time as the two preceding City of Oaks Rex Healthcare Half Marathons: gun time 2.31.56 and chip time 2.29.29. So, though the course is a bit different, I don't know if 15/2 made too much of a difference. Though, I was able to sprint end, which I had not done in any preceding Half. As far as age group: next to last.

I shall do it again next year if still around and no conflict. The bands were great and people too.

3/19 5K fun cross country run #2

Same course as last week, only muddier. 6P.M. or so. Lots of rain in the preceding days, with one nice day before the run. Rain threatened, and it was a bit warmer than last week. 41 people came out and all of us were skirting or hopping over the muddy areas. I found that I was not as fast, er, rather, I was slower than slow. I did not seem to have the same energy as last week and I attribute it to maybe having been at the gym the day before. It couldn't be the pseudo softball game earlier in the day.

Even though not as energetic, I still enjoyed the outing. At the end, coming up the muddy trail and then eventually onto the field for the semi circle trot around to the end, the wind really picked up and a few rain drops fell, preceding the forthcoming storm. It's hard enough going up the hill for me -- and that field -- ugh. Add the wind and it was a drag oneself to the end event. My time was about 33 minutes.

And the folks are great. Real runners that they are, nonetheless they tolerate and encourage the old crone.

It looks like rain is forecast for this coming Thursday. If so, I may not do run #3 because Saturday brings the Half Marathon for which I need all my energy. I have run a Half after running a 5K the day before, but for crones, that is not smart. So an excuse not to do the XC, even though I really enjoy it, will keep me home.

One buck a year for the worst job in the world

Edward Liddy took the job of CEO of AIG in September 2008, at the behest of the government. He is taking one dollar a year as his salary. No bonus, no stock options, no stock. And all the grief in the world as well as a situation that can only lead to sevcre stress. He will be lucky if his health survives this ordeal.

On top of the mess to be resolved (dissolution of AIG), he, and his family, is receiving death threats as a result of the AIGFP bonus news.

Who would want such a job?

AIG March 2009 bonuses to AIGFP unit

AIG: Another potential infusion of thirty billion (within next five years) to a company that has absolutely no regard for the people holding the safety net.

It is absolute nonsense to say that AIG had to honor May 2008 contracts with certain AIGFP employees that apparently guaranteed them bonuses. This is the very unit that was instrumental in the $99 billion 2008 loss.

Okay, so these bonuses are "retention" not performance bonuses. According to Mr. Liddy, gov. appointed CEO, these were for the task of closing the "books" on the business of AIGFP. 74 individuals received greater than $1 million in bonuses, 11 of whom have left. He says they completed the task they were assigned and therefore got the contracted bonus. He also says that it was the Credit Default Swap section of AIGFP that brought the company to its knees. Get this: it was a total of 20 to 25 people responsible for the huge loss! (they cost AIG a $15 Billion loss.) There are other units in AIGFP, such as Derivatives, that were not at fault. (AIGFP had 435 employees, now 360.) He maintains that the $165 million in bonus money is for the Derivative folk. (Another $200 Million in retention bonus is due these folks in 2010. Liddy does not anticipate this will be given out as he expects these people will have left by then.

Please! If the government had not loaned / bailed out AIG in 2008 and now 2009, these people would not have a job. Forget a bonus. It is ridiculous to say a contract must be honored when the company that issued the contract would no longer exist if not for a bailout.

They are lucky to have a job (at probably tidy salaries.)

AIG says these employees are needed to undo the mess they made. Well then, we are all in serious trouble because how can Congress modernize regulations for something they do not understand? Liddy says that the potential loss if these people leave and AIGFP fails is $1.6 TRILLION.

AIG needs to rescind those bonuses if the public is to have any faith in how the US Congress and Senate are overseeing this situation.

It's tough not to get sick over the continuing "in your face" antics of these bailed out companies. And, the government that is kowtowing to them.

Run for the Oaks

Many races, all gone by without comment. Why? Just did not get to it in time. A quick summary of a few that stick in my mind:

City of Oaks Marathon Rex Healthcare half marathon November 2008. 6 a.m. Early morning. Cold, barely light. Me in my black plastic bag, shed before the uphill race start. I tried to maintain a slow steady pace. Slow, because that is how I must jog if I want to keep breathing! I noticed right at the start people shedding clothes. This year, the course differed in its start location and maybe that is why when I reached Hillsborough near the I-64 overpass, I wasn't dying to the extent I was the year before. Nonetheless, I was mighty happy to reach the turn around on Blue Ridge Road. I dragged myself to the end in spurts. Happy to finish.

Frozen 5K Cross Country January 2009. 11 degrees. In two shirts (one tech and one cotton) and a vest, plus gloves, hat, and a cloth thing to cover mouth and nose, I almost became a frozen figure while waiting for the start of the race. I pitied the Panther Creek HS volunteers who were out manning the course. How much worse it would be for them. We ran and they stood. Ugh. Cruel. Once the race got started, the thing around the mouth and nose came down to my neck (the breath fogged my sunglasses) and I was oblivious to the cold. Only my huffing and puffing mattered. Keeping an eye out for roots, I followed the course which just about mirrored the December Jolly Elf 5K. This was good because I had an idea of how much longer the torture would last. On the last bit, with the finish in sight, I actually slowed so that a young boy would cross the line before me. Youth before Crone. This was the first year of this race and the students at Panther Creek had presciently named it, despite the fact that under 20 degrees here is unusual!

Wake Med Distance 5k (as opposed to the 10K) March 7, 2009. I dreaded this run. It starts uphill (for a short distance) then winds around downtown before returning for a long uphill stretch and the final downhill. Previous years it has been a killer for me. The weather was decent: somewhere around 65 (prior years it has been much colder). I managed to hang onto a slow jog without slowing to a walk for about half way. But, just like in prior years, I died on that last uphill. Right after the beginning of the incline and at least two or more times I dropped down to a leaning walk. Still, the whole race did not seem as bad to me as in prior years.

St Patty's Green Run 8K, March 8, 2009. Originally, I had wanted to run this one instead of the Wake Med Distance 5K , but I had a conflict. The conflict went away, so I signed up for this Sunday run, despite having done the 5K the day before. I am glad I did. There were about 800-1000 who participated, of those, 676 who had signed up for a timed (competitive) run finished. At the Start line, there were two women in green and white striped leggings and huge Moppet type hats running with a fellow who had the hat but not the leggings. It was hot, 84 degrees or so, so the hats came off pretty quickly! That is one thing about some of these races: the costumes! Such fun to observe. The race took off up Person St, eventually winding around Oakwood Cemetery and back to a finish on Blount St. I had just enough left at the end to sprint in a race with a young woman to the Finish line. Many runners and fans ate and drank at tables outside of Tir Na Nog after the race. This added to the party atmosphere. I have added this to the list of races I might do next year if still alive and stirring the pot.

On Thursday, March 12, I ran a fun non competitive Cross Country.5K Afraid of getting lost, I made sure this old crone kept a faster runner in sight. We passed an old hulk of a car in the woods which reminded me of when I was eleven and in Connecticut. Out in the woods was an old car, once belonging to some member of the family, that I would oft go and visit and look over. A friend now tells me I was lucky not to encounter any snakes there. She is right, for, once when riding a horse in those woods we did encounter a snake. Being slow in a cross country is certainly an advantage: any snakes will have long been frightened away by the time I get to where they were.

And finally, Race for the Oaks, March 14, 2009. 40 degrees. Dreary. Wet. This usually well attended race had fewer participants this year, the weather probably the primary factor. A few folks had St Patrick's Day regalia on, but most had jackets and hats, though I did spot two young guys at the award presentation who were still in their skimpy shorts, bare, muscled, legs shaking in the cold, and by now, heaver rain. The race took off up Person St (again) and followed much of the route the preceding Sunday's 8K had, except there was no circling of the cemetery. I managed to jog the entire way, a first for me, I think, and so was happy with my results. At least three or four times the temptation to drop to a walk was almost overwhelming, especially on the uphill inclines. But I forced myself to jog, no matter how slowly. I decided to stay near two guys just in front of me, one wearing a jacket with Raleigh Fire Dept. embroidered on the back. At the finish, I wasn't up to a full out sprint, but the half sprint turned out to be just the thing to edge out another competitor. One nice thing about the event is that the City of Raleigh gives out oak saplings to attendees to perpetrate the Oak heritage of the area.