Small Town Four on the Fourth

Though I have been avoiding "distance" events until after USATF Masters Outdoor Nationals, the 4th of July is an exception.  One always has to go out and celebrate properly.  This year, I returned to one I'd run a few times in the past: Carrboro’s Four on the Fourth, presented by the Cardinal Track Club.  The race starts and ends at McDougle Middle School on Old Fayetteville Rd.  Always a nice event, with a good turnout, it did not disappoint.  I was disappointed that I did not see as many patriotic costumes as in the past.  Perhaps it was the headgear that was lacking.  A few had bumble-bee-like stalks with stars, but no Uncle Sam hats were evident. 

I got there a little late for a decent warm-up, but I intended this to be a casual outing any way. I picked up my race number, along with the jar of Little Red Wagon cinnamon-raisin granola given to all entrants.  Nice, huh;  another unique aspect to the Cardinal Track Club Four on the Fourth.  There are two other Le Tour de Carrboro signature races: Carrboro 10K (October) and  Thanksgiving day’s Gallop and Gorge 8K.  I may have to try these this year just to see what goodies are given out. 

I lined up on Old Fayetteville Rd near some other Carolina Godiva Track Club runners. (Many live in the surrounding area.)  Next to me was a legitimate fireman, in all of his gear, including tank on the back. (Only the young and slightly wacky would dare run so swaddled in the heat of the summer.  But then, these guys fight hot fires in the hottest weather, don’t they!)  I later heard that, prior to race start, a whiny runner complained about the heat – until this fireman walked by! At 8 a.m. race start, it was 72°, dew point at 67°, and a wonderfully drippy humidity of 84%.  Winds varied from over 3 to 5 miles during the next hour.

Off we went. 

I lost sight of the fireman as I tried to take photos off to the side, ahead of me, and behind (hold camera up, point back, and hope for a surprise!) As I said, I was not planning to really race. To my right was farmland-like looking land (turned out to be a park).  Carrboro retains a small town feel (population about 21,000) with  homes varying from modest size to classical old Victorian style, on nice slices of land.  (Some small farms  are hidden in outlying areas.)  This is an art hub, with an independent streak, not surprising as many folk are affiliated with UNC Chapel Hill. 

 We ran a little ways along Old Fayetteville Rd before turning left onto tree shaded residential Carol St.  A few people watched us go by.  The runners streamed out ahead, along a long downhill dip followed by a short uphill.

  With a slight left then short trot to a right onto Hillsborough St, we entered a mostly flat route.  Older, larger, homes lined this road. While on Carol St, I had already passed one lady I knew was in my age group.  (Though I was not really in competitive mode, I thought that she had previously beaten me in some race, so I wanted to, well, beat her!) This flat area was welcome because I knew it would not last.  Where Hillsborough St converged with W. Main St, we made a sharp right onto W. Main. 

I was beginning to feel an energy drain. I did not run this course last year, so did not recall exactly how much farther we had, but it felt as if we’d gone at least three miles.  To say I was disappointed when we came upon the two mile sign does not cover it!  My remaining energy sapped away in a hurry.  That's the mental give up and just finish point. (Just like in track, specifically the 400m, when you know you can not possibly get to the Finish!) And of course, at this point, there was a slight uphill incline to the roadway. Ugh.  We came to another right, onto James St.  More homes and now few runners ahead of me.--one way to tell one is either lagging behind – or way in front!  In my case, lagging! Only one fellow, in patriotic shorts, ahead.  I used some reserves to catch up long enough to take a photo and then backed off.

With a left back onto Carol St, now facing the uphill aspect of the earlier downhill, I walked and slow jogged.  To my left, some folks partied with music pouring forth from a home set downhill and back from the road.  It was still before 9 a.m., so I wondered if they were drinking plain coffee, or coffee spiked with some historical alcoholic additive, or morning beer (a John Adams blend for the 4^th?) 

Finally, back onto Old Fayetteville Rd.  Slogging at this point.  It was still a long way to the school from my perspective. 

croaking, struggling to get to end

Once there, I passed through areas of relaxing runners, walking around with their after race goodies.  Down the steps and onto the track for the ending 300m or so.  Responding to the calls from a running pal to run, I began sprinting – and got maybe 200m before running out of oxygen and gasping to a walk! I rounded the last curve and made the effort for the finish, racing another lady to the line.  Done!  Dripping wet now.  The track area was crowded with runners, eating watermelon, drinking water, and talking.  I ate several slices of watermelon, of which there was plenty.  I also managed to get one of the last boxes of Bitsy’s Brain Food’s orange, chocolate, and beet “smart cookies”!  (Told you Carrboro was a brainy, artsy, place!)  Yes, they were yummy!  I also found the coffee, but, alas, there were no cups left, only lids, so I added a little to my bottle of water.  (Not very tasty.)

The awards were presented.  Victor Omelas (29) ran the four miles in 21:49.84 and Meredith Hale (28) did it in 24:55.35.  756 folks participated in the event with times from 21:49 to 01:16:05. By the way, the fireman finished in 44:49.  Incredible.  Surely, he lost five to eight pounds of sweat. Ah, yes. True story.  One young girl, 15, while running along one of the residential streets, was surprised by a deer that popped out from between homes. The deer, startled at the encounter, jumped onto her back, knocking her down before running off.  Despite this  – she got third in her age group!  I could see two smudged hoof prints on her back as she turned after accepting her award.

Each age group winner got a bag of Carrboro Coffee Roasters freshly roasted Open Eye Awards blend Four on the Fourth coffee beans (something to race very hard for!) and a small, handle less,  Janet Resmik made pottery cup, which one could use to consume the coffee.  

illswborough converged with W Main St, we made a sh HHHH

HOT Southeastern Masters Championships

  

Southeastern Masters Championships at NCSU in Raleigh, NC, fell on June 19^th and 20^th this year.  Right in the midst of an incredible hot spell.  There is temperature and then there is “heat index”.  The temperature got to 96 (98 according to a pal) and the heat index … 103!  Standing around had to be hell for the officials out in the field.  The athletes had some respite beneath their tent (if they had one) or in small shaded areas alongside the track.  Two misting tents were available, providing a very light mist which, if one walked beneath it several times, helped. 

I went to the event on Friday to watch some of the pentathlon and for the throws clinic (hoping to hear how to throw the javelin.)  I met Joyce Hodges-Hite (79) who was there to do the 10,000m and maybe break the meet record she previously set.   A few Piedmont Pacer teammates were there, to do the 3000m, 5000m, and 10,000m races.  They can have them!  Ugh. 

Mary Szymkowski, Pacer, did the 3000m, with one knee wrapped after encounter with her exuberant young dog the day before.  Terry Ozell, Atlanta Track Club, ran with Mary since this was a mixed age-group heat. Mary and Terry ran most of the race together until the end with Mary crossing the Finish in 13.44.01 and Terry in 14:04.03.  (Also running this event, along with Mary, was another former NU Wildcat: Cynthia Lucking - the NU howls must have been drowned out by the wolfs roaming the NCSU grounds.)

3000m women's lineup

Terry Ozell & Mary Szymkowski

I spent some time in the hottest part of the day practicing block starts.  I read my cheat sheet (and as it turned out – mis-read it!) indicating that my right foot would be the “quick” foot and therefore in the back block, and my left foot the power foot and forward.  That was okay with me since it’s my right knee that does not like to bend acutely.  So, there I am, in the blazing sun, trying to pop out of the blocks after awkwardly folding myself into position. I can get out of them but can’t tell if this is any better than switching back to what I had previously been practicing (right foot forward).  I did try one with right foot forward.  Cr-e-a-k, the knee gets into position but I have to raise butt to ease angle of bend.  No better than left foot forward.  And is either any better (or slower!) than my three point stance?  I packed up the blocks and went back to watching the running events.

blocks on a soggy April field

Anne Sluder ran the 800m of the pentathlon all alone.  Not a soul to chase or keep ahead of.  Nonetheless, she ran it fast enough to have it mentioned that she set a record – what kind of record?  Don’t know.  (I have not been able to verify or correlate the time with records). She ran  2:36, and that is fast, regardless!  

I did not get to watch the 10,000m as the throws clinic was moved to the same start time.  As it turned out, the clinic was populated by discus and weight throwers and so the focus was on that discipline.  Meanwhile, Dixon Cook (Pacer) and Mary Hodges-Hite trotted their 10,000m in the oppressive heat.  The race was over before the clinic ended. Cook ran it in 47:02.15 and Hodges-Hite in 1:41:02.46 (not eclipsing her meet record of last year.)

I spent the night worrying and doing more research about the blocks.  One expert said to cross your arms and the hand that goes underneath is the quick side.  Hmmpf, that’s the left for me.  Another said, well, it is the foot you would kick a ball with. Yeah? That’s the right side.  Tick tock, the night moves on and no decisive answer. I gave up.

Saturday, the 20^th was even hotter than the day before.  My first event was at 11 a.m.  I got there early and watched some high jumping.  I don’t know how the jumpers get that lift.  Especially those of us who are in the older brackets.    An official took some of the early arrivals out on the field so we could practice throwing.  That was great for me since this was my first attempt at javelin.  Angela Staab had let me try her golden 500g javelin at the May Powerade State games.  Most of the throws ended up skidding across the grass where I was practicing. She told me that as long as the point hit the ground first, it was probably a valid throw.  (I’d been thinking that unless the javelin stuck upright in the ground as one sees during Olympic events, it was no good.) The javelin throws event was to begin at 11 but was delayed while many of the women were still doing other field events. Shot put? Many athletes stood in the shade near the back end of the check in building or alongside the railing in a thin strip of shade.  By the time the event started, I had already consumed a bottle of water.  Imagine the officials!  Some wore wide brimmed straw-type hats, others caps, and some nothing!

During the wait time, the 1500m event was contested.  Mary Szymkowski (52) ran this, knee still wrapped but better, as did Terry Ozell (61), and now 80-years-old Martha Klopfer.  I managed to take some photos of these sweltering distance folk while waiting.  Mary and Terry stuck close to each other until the end when Terry pushed ahead in the last 100m. 

Terry Ozell

Mary Szymkowski

Terry crossed in 6:34.37, Mary in 6:43.51.  Martha finished in 9:42.28.

Martha Klopfer

 Omar Wiggan (36),  local runner, ran the same event in 4:33.26 and three Piedmont Pacer men – all in the 65-69 AG - competed: Dixon Cook, 5:47.23; Russell Smith 5:48.21; and Jay Smith 6:17.67.

Timothy Higgins and a Pacer Russell and Jay Snith

Dixon Cook

Women went first in Javelin.  We all had six attempts.  Several of the women not only showed good form, starting way back and gliding forward, but threw some arcing throws that landed point first, sticking up!  Not me.  I varied my throws from mid-way back, to short, to stutter-shuffle step.  Of my six throws, one was a skidder, not counting, and the other five landed point first but none stayed upright.  Needs work.  Ann Carter had the best throw of the three of us in my age group: 11.33m.  The longest throw for women was by Nicole Kelly (34) with a distance of 35.13m.  For men it was Edward Hearn (65) with a throw of 43.8m.

I had been worried about running out of warm up time for the 1 p.m. 100m.  I had a good half hour to warm up before my race.  I had used some of my wait time during the javelin event to start some warm up routines, but did not really feel that I had done enough or was ready to go all out and not look turtle-like.  Only six women were there for the 100m, so age groups were mixed.  We ranged from 55-59 AG to the 70-74 group.  I think I ended up in lane 4 (or was it 5?) Becky Simers (55-59) was somewhere to my left and Ann Carter was on my other side.   I had decided to go with right foot back.  Waiting for the gun, I tried to recall what I should be doing.  I did at least one of them!  Bang – off we went.  The folks to my left flew out in front of me.  I ran as fast as I could down the straight away. (Don’t we all say that?)  It felt good, but not super. Becky Simers (SC Striders) ran 14.74.  I managed to get back in the stands to watch Eric Johnson (47) run his 100m heat and win (11.89).

Oscar Peyton (62) ran the 100m in 11.99 and 70-year-old Ty Brown ran it in 13.09.  Aren’t these guys something!

Next up was the 400m.  I was not looking forward to it.  Instead of running two age groups together (with 2 competitors in each) they ran just two of us, Angela Staab and me. I was in lane 4 again, I think and Angela was two over from me.  I ran out fast and then eased up a little so I could breathe as I went down the back stretch.  I tried to focus on footstep rather than the dwindling energy.  By the time I got to the final turn, I was feeling stressed.  Just get to the finish is all I  could think – that and keep moving the legs; ignore the screaming mind and pump those arms.  It wasn’t pretty but I got there without walking.  But I was feeling it.  I felt dizzy and after catching breath went right to the mister and then the water.  I walked a little and then decided what would work is cold water on the head so I went over to the infield side (after the next 400m heat came through with Becky Simers and Leandra Funk pushing each other.  Leandra 1:13.43; Becky 1:13.45.)  The water cooler was near the weight throwing pit.  One official stood outside of the ring, close to track edge and he glanced over as I walked by.  I took a look at the throw area.  Another official was sitting in a chair a little to the outside of the ring-pit.  The big guys were up, swinging that weight around and around.  Anyone who officiates that event deserves extra pay.  If the weighted ball slips out of a competitor’s hand, an official has no time to clear away.  Certainly not the guy sitting in the chair.  And this being a Master’s event, anything is possible!  Damn scary.  I got my cold water and poured it over my head. It helped.  Later, I did that a few more times.  Leandra Funk, here from Indiana, asked if NC was always this hot at this time of year.  Yep, it happens.  She was going on to St. Paul to compete in the National Senior Games (as were others at this Meet.) A notable men's run was that of Leon Bullard (41) who completed the 400m in 51:45.

Leon Bullard

I watched Cynthia Lucking run the 2000m steeplechase.  She needed to ice one leg after the event.  Some of the younger men just hopped over the hurdles and the water barrier (which, earlier in the day, I swore I saw Anne Sluder walking through to cool off!)

The 200m was next up for me and I went without blocks.  I was in lane 1 – a first for me.  Becky Simers was in lane 4 maybe and she was using the blocks.  Ann Carter did not run this one.  With all the field events she had done, in the heat, she chose the wiser course of cooling off.  I ran what seemed to be a good race but based on my times (yes, I did come in last of the group), I need improvement here, too.  Now I could watch the 40-somethings and the men run this fast sprint.  The mixed age group that included Oscar Peyton (62) ran a tight race.  From my vantage point on the other side of the field, I thought Oscar had taken it but 55-year-old Don McGee took it 24:02 to 24:14.  To put this fast time in better perspective, 19-year-old Marlon Allen ran it in 23 flat. One second difference;  yet a 35 and more year age differential!

Mary Syzmkowski ran the 800, as did many of the Piedmont Pacer men.  I was thrilled to see that Erika Charles (26)  was here to compete in the 800m.  As she did at the Powerade State Games, she blasted off, finishing this tortuous race in 2:11.95. The last group to go off got hit with a beginning rainfall that turned into a downpour just after they finished.  Everything I had in the stands got soaked (I was on the infield queuing up to do a relay, which got delayed.)

The last events were the relays.  It seemed only the Piedmont Pacers fielded teams, so in the 4x100, it was three men Pacers vs the women Pacers (Hollis Oberlies, Shawn Greer, Lori Stresemann, and the crone).  Our lead off Pacer was fast and got a great lead on the men.  By the time the baton got to me, the oldest anchor, I had an unbreakable lead to the Finish.  I wimped out of the 4x400 so the rest of the women who had just run as well as Mary Szymkowski ran it and then the 4x800 which followed.   

I’m watching USATF.TV’s USATF Outdoor Championships from Eugene Oregon as I write this.  (watch and learn, crone!) 91 degrees and they are saying after the athletes ran the 800m that they want to get out of the sun and into the cool. A little windy. (Several of the sprints with fast times were not “legal” in sense of records because the wind kept going over 2 meters per second, up to 4.5m/s at one point.)  And they expect temps up to 100 during the weekend.  Welcome to our world!

Becky Simers was awarded the Southeastern Masters Phil Raschker plaque for best female combined age graded 100m and 200m as well as the Timothy Dickens award for best age graded 400m. The women's team award went to Atlanta Track Club 

ATC Women, including Terry Ozell, accepting award

Piedmont Pacer men (Jay Smith, Kevin Gobble) accepting award

and the men's to Piedmont Pacers.   The highly anticipated award by those who regularly attend these award dinners was the Ed Barron award for the person contributing the most to the sport.  A most deserving person, acknowledged by all, was event announcer Peter Taylor.

Peter Taylor accepting Ed Barron awatd

Peter demonstrating his virtual unlock of memory bank

  I don’t know all the stats but he has announced at 32 Nationals, one international, the Penn Relays, and others.  All I know is that this man has a phenomenal memory. He says all he has to do is associate the athlete with a place and the data comes pouring forth.  Yes, it does!  When one thinks of how many events he has announced, it is incredible how he keeps it all straight.  Not only that, he knows faces!  He has set the bar very high for all announcers.  Announcing is a harder task than running a race.

Powerade State Games NC -- Open runners fly!

May 31, 2015 the Powerade State Games of North Carolina held their Open and Masters competitions in Durham.  The last time I competed in the Powerade Games they were in Charlotte and the day was incredibly hot with almost no shade.  Well, 2015 was a repeat, but I found shade in the shadow of a Powerade banner attached to the fence near the high jump area.  It was 88°F and dry.

The high jumpers were entertaining, in both feats and landings.

Graceful in jump. Head plant on landing.

                                  

Boom!

Overall, there seemed to be few women competitors.  I watched two young women 100m hurdlers, compete in a heat with some young men. One seemed to be all legs and they were fast down the track.  Kendra Newton, 27, finished in 13.27 and 29-year-old Kayla Smith in 14.22.   Fewer than twenty-three women competed in the track events, many of whom were in multiple track events.  Similarly in the field events, many competed in multiple disciplines.  At a guess, there were less than nineteen women. 

Kendra Newton also ran the 200m along with 21 year old Annastasia Scott.  The 200m was the last track event except for the relays.  While awaiting our 200m event, Annastasia said that it was so hot that even her feet, in track shoes, were burning.  Only four women ran the 200m, two of us more than seniors.  Running from behind, I could see that the two young women were running a very tight race. Not until I saw the results did I know that Annastasia won in 23.95, with Kendra coming in at 25.69.  Another Scott, Anna, won the earlier 100m in 11.52 and the 400m in 57.82. A good day for those with surname Scott. Also running the 400m, was Tanisha Turner, 27, competing in one of her first events. Her running outfit was unique: a colorful, one piece, open back, bathing suit. She was swift, finishing in 59.83.

I watched the men's 400m and one young man caught my camera's eye right at the start. I wish I'd gotten his name (number would not help since the results don't list bib number and some of these events mixed ages) One heat was just three in their early twenties.  I think the photo is of the winner, 20-year-old Jamaican, Campbell Univ.,  Lennox Wiliams, at the start and near the finish.  He was eyeball fast! 48.73.

Takeoff!

cruising to Finish

In the more distant events, an impressive race was run in the 800m by Ericka Charles, 26.  She led all the way, coming in at 2:13.79, followed by 32-year-old Tamika Newsome, 2:42.89.  Another 800m runner was seventy-nine year-old, one day away from turning eighty, Martha Klopfer. Martha is a distance runner but was feeling the heat this day.  Nonetheless, she finished in a great time of 4:53.91. Jay Smith, 66, won his 800m in 2:58.04.

Anne Sluder, 42, from Carolinas Track Club competed in the high jump, 80m hurdles (12.94) and 400m hurdles, (1:11.86). She also did both the high jump (1.55m) and long jump (4.99m). Regina Richardson, 50, Atlanta Track Club competed in many of the same events: long jump (4:45m), triple jump (9:53m), 80m hurdles (13.92).

Anne Sluder approaching hurdle near Finish

I missed watching the men’s 100m but I did see the M40-49 4x100 relay, won by team Jump Stars “A”.  The fellow running anchor ran a blazing fast 100m. He was wearing all white and was incredibly fast. The team’s time was 42.70.  The anchor was 19 year-old Shannon Patterson, who also ran the 100m in 10.86 and the 200m in 21.72. 

4x100 relay team after exchange back stretch

Miracle of the Roller

OMG.  How could I have forgotten?  The roller: hard-medium foam or hard ridged is amazing in alleviating leg aches. I had fortotten this and paid the price yesterday.

Tuesday morning brought the unanticipated (not that knowing would have made a difference) Camp Gladiator (CG) Fit test.  This was a newly devised, exquisite, method of breaking one down to a mass of gasps and aches.  After about a 15 minute or so warmup, at about 05:50 or so, we began this not to be loved experience.  Why always Tuesday mornings? (Well, one could wait for the 6 a.m. Wednesday morning class.) In essence, one does 5 different "exercises" (brutal), each for a minute, then record your count, and immediately begin the next one.  After the 5 minutes, a minute and a half? off, we went right into the next iteration.  There were 5 such sets with the last two being only 45 seconds per exercise.   

I ached for the rest of the day.  So, Wednesday comes, and those who had not done the Fit Test Tuesday were so inflicted while the rest of us had a lot of leg related exercises interspersed with runs around the parking lot.  More hurt.  Only worse.  Really bad in the after noon.  I applied this and that (horse liniment; arthritis and epsom salt sports rub, and anacar.)  Still ached.

Early evening, off to Carolina Godiva Track Club fun meet in Chapel Hill.  I went early so I could practice starting from blocks (new to this.) It began raining so that was halted but come meet time, the loyal CGTC folk were ready to run, despite the rain (no lightning.)  I did not run the 1500m. I knew better.  (Though I did the mile last week, I am not a track distance person.)  Besides, I hurt.

                                                                    Belk field - photo by William Schmitz

I was not going to use blocks for the 100m. Few at CGTC do. How about no one.  But my younger pal who is getting ready for her first meet on Sunday since a July surgery wanted to use hers and encouraged me to try since I need to get used to it.  So there we were, in the rain, waiting for our row to go. One of the CGTC members stood umbrella in hand!  (Mary Poppins). She did not run with it.  

Feeling like a fool, I go to the line with the blocks and sort of position myself.  I can't bend my right knee all the way (residual arthritis, it seems, from prior meniscus surgery) so I look even dumber, more awkward, than most.  Bang, goes the gun.  I get out of the blocks but my speed is lousy.  All the way to the end (everyone else finishes before me; my pal in 14 plus seconds.)  It took me 19.22 seconds. My timer said she thought I was slower using the blocks.  Yep.  That and being slower coming down the track.  One knows when it isn't there and it was not there.

A 1500m speed walk is up before the 400m. My legs really hurt now.  The calves in particular.  Tight. Hurting.  Ugh. The rain has let up by the time the 400m comes along.  I was probably in the 4th group to go (we line up arbitrarily except that the kids always go first. It is fun to watch them.  I don't know how they manage that distance with those short legs.  One family's kids always run bare foot.  This is the best part of the meet sometimes, watching them.)  Any way, off I go.  In lane 7, not running fast just wanting to finish.  Most are way ahead of me.  As we come near the final turn, the last person passes.  I plod along.  But coming down the last 100 was impossible,  My legs really hurt.  Finally, I walked.  But the timers were waiting. I tried to jog and once again had to walk and at the end, barely fast walked across the Finish.  1:56!
Slow and an ache from knees down.

By the time I got home, not only was I ready for a shower but also for more sports rub.  Went to bed.  Got up at 1 a.m. I had to try the roller. Wow.  Sore!  But by the time I stopped, I felt a little better. At 5 a.m., I rolled again.  Much better (still a bit sore but better.)  I was able to do this morning's CG which had some running and some leg work.

Now, I shall remember to do roller every darn day! Hurt or not.

Mustering the Energy

My fourth race weekend brought my longest race: the Minuteman Muster 8k on 5/16, in support of the NC National Guard Educational Foundation.  I was doing this along with three ladies as part of the Nog Run Club group.  Of course, many of us are also North Carolina Road Runners Club members.  The course description, naturally, contains the phrase “challenging hills”.   Other Nog and NCRC folk were there as well. The event featured a 5K and the 8K, both starting at 10 a.m.

   

Two of the younger women (well, they are all younger) were doing the Wake Forest Rotary 5K earlier and would arrive just prior to the 10 a.m. race start.  Both distances would start at the National Guard Center on Gold Star Dr. off of Reedy Creek Rd.Raleigh and would end up on Reedy Creek heading towards Umstead State Park.  The 5K turnaround preceded that of the 8K turnaround.  I warmed up while surveying the military equipment and booths featuring clothes and equipment of those that served in WWI and WWII.  The trucks and ammo carriers were monstrous.

The ladies who had run in Wake Forest arrived in time (both having won their age group in the prior 5k).  One was running with her mom in the 5K and the other was doing the 8K. The third lady, the young speed demon, was running the 5K.  First, the flag was honored 

and then we bunched up near the start, a few with baby joggers.  Most participants seemed to be young men.  And, indeed, such was the case.  For the 5K, 129 men competed, most of whom were in the 20-29 AG with the next highest number in the 40-49 AG.  97 women ran the 5k, most of whom were 30-39.  The 8k was overwhelmingly populated by men: 117 versus 44 women.  Most men were 20-29 or 30-39; and similarly for the women.  Did I mind being swamped by buff and capable men?  Nope.  I moved to the back of the pack, being careful not to get in front of a baby jogger.

So, off we go – in an uphill curve towards the entrance on Gold Star Drive.  Turn right onto Gold Star, partial uphill

 then left onto Reedy Creek to a greenway which took us to a tunnel beneath Edwards Mill Rd. then uphill to get onto the continuation of Reedy Creek Rd.  Just prior to the tunnel, a child in a baby jogger dumped his parent’s cap on the ground. I swerved , not quick enough in thinking or motion to pick it up.  Mom got it.  The kid later dumped something else out along the way.  The lady with the baby jogger and I alternated in leading each other until near the end when I moved on.  Anyone running with a baby jogger has got to be both energetic and strong.

  A young girl, a kid, was ahead of us.  Young guys were running in a pack wearing the red race shirt, one carrying the flag.  There were several male groups running for the 4-man team  award.  I saw some of the fast Nog folk on their way back from the 5K turnaround.  My running pal was the first female.  Well good.  She was working on a repeat of her prior race wins.  I later saw the 8K Nogger, coming back from her turnaround, steaming ahead.  An uphill just prior to the 8K turnaround was ahead, as was the baby jogger lady and a pack of men.  I was thirsty.  There was water ahead, so I ran on the grass and passed these folks to get the water first.  Most times I bypass water but not today.

  

Around the cone and now a downhill after a couple of gulps of water.   A tall fellow and his lady and I played leap frog along the way.  I’d get energy and concentrate on my new technique of breathing in when my left foot hit the ground and out when next it touched. I did not run out of energy quite as soon.  I did find that I would sometimes switch to a right foot pattern.  I slowed, almost stopping, well actually stopping, to take a photo through the trees of the lake.

  I’d been taking photos now and then since with an age group of 50+, I was not in the running.  

 A nice group of runners were out.  We joked and commiserated along the way as we trudged up and down the hills.  This is a pretty route.  A few horse farms bordered the area.  If one did not see a horse, one could smell their presence now and then.  

I took water at the second water stop too, which happened to be at the 5K turnaround, I think.  Two men and I sort of kept pace with each other until just before the tunnel where there was a slight downhill and I picked up some speed.  My speed slowed when we came out onto a street again and I made the right turn towards the entrance to the National Guard Center.  Initially, we had a downhill then a left turn to an uphill right curving road and finally, FINALLY, a right to the Finish.

I later tried to spot the two men who had been just behind me but did not see them.  I found the Nog folk and we hung out.  Awards were in ten year age groups, up to 50+.  There were team awards for 4-person teams, mostly a military challenge.  In the 5K, my Nog runner's mom came in 3^rd in the 50+ group, with a 35:27 time (mom and daughter ran together, giving the kid a break after her earlier 5K.)   Our 5K speed demon lady ran a 6:23 pace, coming in as first female overall. The other woman who had run the earlier 5K, and ran this 8K came in first in her AG (second time this day) in 47:44 and pace 9:36.  And, oh yeah, the little kid running ahead of me? Ashley Nowacki, 10 years old, finished in 47:37 (yes, ahead of my pal!  But that is because she, unlike me, graciously held back to let the youngster cross before her.  Me?  I would have blown by – but obviously, I did not have that opportunity, coming in much later.)

Despite the hills, this was a fun event and I think it was because of the participants.  Upbeat, and encouraging each other.  I had been reluctant to run this one (I bypassed last year) figuring this was not an event for senior citizens. Sort of like me trying to do a mud run!  However, I am glad that I did it.  (As it happened, I placed 2 of 4 in the 50+ AG)

And now it is back to track related practice.  Carolina Godiva Track Club has begun their fun summer series of Wednesday night meets.  I will be dragged out from morning boot camp, a good excuse!  The worst part is the drive there during commute time. ugh. 

Clayton Road Race 5K -- uh oh, which way?

The Clayton Road Race 5K on Saturday 5/9/15 had not been on my race list; only future track events.  But, as things happen, I decided on Friday night that my legs did not feel too achy and if it was not raining I would go.   The drive to Clayton was encouraging. I saw flat farm land. Well, good.  This one might be a nice flat 5K.  My first problem was finding the Start.  Street signs at Hwy 70 intersections were either non-existent or tiny and hardly visible.  I had not used the GPS since the directions seemed simple: HWY 70 to Fayetteville St.   Next time, when in Johnston County, I will use GPS.

My trips to Johnston County in the past were to rural areas with lovely names such as Willow Springs and Four Oaks. Smithfield is renown to the older generation as the once upon a time home, and now burial site, of actress Ava Gardner.  Johnston County used to be known as bootlegger land.  Sort of independent one might say as opposed to lawless.  Even I heard of Percy Flowers when I first got to NC.  For side entertainment, a bit of his history:  (and hound dogs!)  

Mr. Percy's Run

When I entered the Clayton Center to register, I encountered the Nog Run Club adorned folks   Oops.  I was the oddball in my pink Shamrock 5K shirt.   The Nog ladies and I warmed up, trotting several of the streets (but not going down the hill we would later run up towards the Finish) It was overcast, but no rain.  The race director announced that this was the 32^nd running of the event and thanked the returnees and welcomed newcomers.  He mentioned that the course this year differed from prior years (construction?) It was situated between Hwy 70 and the rail road tracks.  The route was marked with chalk arrows, white and orange.  (I must have missed what each signified.) He did say that the new route was hilly.  What? Oh, sure!

 The race started promptly at 09:00, heading downhill before making a right turn.  I had lined up about mid pack, making sure I was not in the path of a lady with a baby jogger.    I kept pace with those ahead of me until after we turned the corner.  Then, when it was clear, I moved more to the right and steadied my pace to something more reasonable.  The Nog ladies were well ahead of me.   There followed a few more right turns to put us on Fayetteville St, which was a longer trot before we began making turn after turn it seemed.  A tall fellow in a red shirt ran nearby.  Off and on during the course, we swapped places, so we were maintaining a similar pace.  The homes along the route were single story.  A few dogs barked. I did not see anyone outside other than race volunteers and other runners. People staying inside sleeping or avoiding the hoard. Almost like a deserted town. We encountered a long uphill of medium grade along the way.  At the top, we turned right. 

.A water stop was ahead. I was skipping the stops, so at first did not pay much attention. But then, I felt some confusion.  I think we were coming up a slight incline.  Ahead, a water stop table was manned by young girls.  The confusion was that I noted a white chalk line pointing to the right and an orange line going straight beyond the table.  I hesitated mentally. Some runners ran straight and others turned right.  I decided to follow the runners I’d been behind all along and turned right.  This turned out to be the correct decision.

 We had about a mile to go when I became aware of a lady gasping as she ran along.  She reminded me of how I sound when nearing my limit.  “I’m dying” she said, every so often.  She had headphones so I wasn’t sure if she heard me when I told her to keep on at it.  I knew how awful she felt, but unlike when I am gasping, she persisted in keeping her pace rather than slowing.  Finally, a spectator outside of his home, with a large excited dog on a lead.  The dog was getting his exercise lunging back and forth until the owner took him inside. 

I could not get to the final turn soon enough.  Once there, I still had to drop to a walk even though I knew the Finish waited several blocks ahead.  Uphill!  I walked up the hill until the last intersection before the Finish and then sprinted across the line.  Since I had just walked, I had enough breath to go all out.  I was later rewarded by a comment from a young fellow (10?) that certainly gave me a lift.

I stopped and watched some of the folks come up the hill towards the Finish. 

 A little dog came running along with one, danced around, followed another for a short distance, then darted back the way he'd come, down the hill and out of sight.

happy running dog

Back to the water stop issue.  One of our Nog runners had gone straight, along with other runners.  She became suspicious when they made some turns and ended up intersecting with the main batch of runners.  Plus, her Garmin was about 4/10^th of a mile short.  She had gotten second in her age group but told the officials she had gone off course and was short on distance. (Gee, I am reminded of the Rock N Roll marathon winner who was led off course by the lead biker, then got a ride, and reentered the course – losing time – but still recognized as the female winner.) Any way, the Nog runner was not recognized in her AG. 

So, 32^nd year of this event and they still have something to learn, such as have an adult course monitor there to direct runners.  (I have no idea what the orange line was for – maybe we came back that way and I did not recognize the terrain.)

Interestingly, the three male overall winners were all under 16, with Caleb Silver, 15, the winner in 17:29.  The three overall women winners were all in their early 30s, with Susan Heuser (Nog!) winning in 20:31.  207 folks ran the event and 19 people walked it as part of the 5K Health Walk.  It was sunny by the time the event ended.  Except for the directional confusion at the water stop, this was a nice event to run. 

A larger home near the Finish, with a cat safe in the doorway observing the runners in the intersection on the side street.

Rocketing and flopping in the Rocket Mile

The week of the Nash Health Care Rocket Mile, affectionately known as the Rocket Mile, arrived.  Oh, yeah!  Going to beat last year's time.  Even if by only a minute.  Sounds good.  On the Friday before the race, I decided not to do Camp Gladiator.  I was feeling a bit achy this week and knew the wiser course was to take it easy the two days before Sunday's Rocket Mile.

Saturday, feeling a little guilty over doing nothing, I decided to try some slow, and I mean slow, half mile jogs.  Well, dang it -- I could not sustain even a quarter mile, even on a dirt greenway with less knee stress. But I had not an iota of energy and wow, my legs ached.  I returned home not exactly in high spirits.  Last year , I had done the Rocket Mile in 8:40, with one walk.  Now I adjusted expectations to between 9 and 9:30. I decided to eat some meat for dinner and applied epsom salt deep penetrating arthritis and sport rub to the legs.

Sunday morning I felt better; the legs did not ache and I sensed more energy.  My pals and I arrived in Rocky Mount around  one p.m.  This event is run in four sections: the men at 2 p.m.; women at 2:20; boys 14 and under, then girls 14 and under.  We did the packet pickup, rest stop business and eyed the place medals as well as the RRCA medals for male and female Open, Master, GrandMaster, and Senior GrandMaster, which were displayed on a table.  The returning live band from last year, Featured Attraction, was playing beach music.

Because this was an RRCA championship race, we figured there would be a lot of competitors.

This is the second year of the event.  It has a lot going for it: a very fast, flat, course with just three left turns!  Great food after: hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, cookies (last year all sorts of salads), nuts and more.  The event begins and ends at The Imperial Center in Rocky Mount which has an inside beer joint, for those who might like such after the race.   I talked with the two Piedmont Pacers who had shown up: Kevin Gobble and Dixon Cook. We four ladies relaxed until abouit a half hour before the men's race.  I then went through my warm up.  Slowly.  This year it was not windy and the temp was about 74.  I didn't do as many run outs as last year, but did do lunges etc.  My running pal I'd trained with was not feeling strong this day and so changed her own expectations.  But our plan was for me to initially stay at her pace (so I wouldn't burst out like a jack rabbit and then burn out before even 1/4 mile)

We watched the men's race and saw our own Sandy Roberts win it in 4:20.5, with a seven second lead over the second place male.

RRCA Grand Master P. Gibson;Master Musa Gwanzura;Sr Grand Master Dixon Cook; Open Champ Sandy Roberts. 

Now it was to be the women's turn.  73 men had run.  72 women were now getting set to go.  The swift elites were tuning up: all slim, some tall some not.  Three of us had decided to move up closer to the start area and towards the left edge.  I was reminded by my training pal to not rush out but to keep near her pace.  (She is younger and of course faster but planned to modertate at the start.)   With the Go command, we were off. I started off adjacent to my pal but found myself moving ahead and so backed off a little.  The Garmin says I started at 09:28 then went to 05:59 then to 07:15.  Now, why is this important?  Why even mention it?  Well because at .04 of a mile (4/100th), near Gay St junction, a lady in a purple shirt passed on my left then cut diagonally in front of me. I had time to think, what the hey! before I was on the ground.  I really don't know how it happened.  Upright and moving one second or partial second and the next on my hands and knees.(my falling speed was 16.33 then 0!)  My sunglasses flew off to the right with the impact.  People began flowing past; one running pal came back and the other stopped and got the glasses, while a volunteer was asking if I was okay. Yep. I berated my pals to get going and they took off like the rockets they are.  Think about how fortunate the runners behind me were!  None stumbled over me and they all got by without incident.  I think that may have been because I was so far to the left (maybe 2 steps from N. Franklin St curb) that the majority of runners were more centered in the street.  I later heard from my other pal that before I was cut off, a runner from that same group (purple shirt, logo on back) elbowed her on the way forward.  Lordy, Lordy!

 Anyway, I got up and ran on starting at 10:06 down to 7:15 and varied between 7:30 and 8, with an occasional 9:30, until I got to the first turn where I slowed up to 9:30 or so.  Meantime, I passed two purple shirted women.  I am rhinking at this point that I needed to back off to keep from burning out.  I'd used a lot of reserve getting back to some kind of pace.  Last year, I'd had to drop to a walk at about 3/4 of a mile.  I hoped not to do that again.  Yeah, sure.  Only if I backed off now and became more leisurely.  (Is this a race?) After the turn onto N. Church St, now beyond a half mile, I stayed mostly in a 9:30 pace.  Several churches on both sides of the street along here.  A fellow on the sidewalk is ringing a sizable bell (church steeple size it seemed to me) as a token "bell lap".  These folks in Rocky Mount really support this event. I made it to the 3/4 mile point without walking (that pleased me!) and then pushed to an 8 minute pace and below seven on the last bit.  

Once across the Finish, I gasped to the grassy area on the side and sat.  My pals come over, one gets the EMS/PD folks over (really -- just a scraped knee!  Actually, both had bled, one was minor since my Rock Tape covered the impact area.  Not only is the tape helpful and attractive in appearance, but it may also act as a shield against unforeseen street impacts.)  We ended up just putting bandaids on, to allow the scrapes to breathe.  What really hurt on into the night was my unscraped left hand's trapezium area -- the fatty area extending on the palm from thumb to wrist.  I needed lots of ice for that.

Of the four of us who came to the race, one got first age group and also RRCA Grand Master (time of 7:43 even after stopping to come back to me), the other two got second in their age groups -- one of whom might have gotten first had she not also stopped for me (missing first by 16 seconds).  I had predicted that if Suzanne Gibson showed up, she would probably get Senior Grand Master.  She did, running the mile in 8:08.

RRCA Open champ Deanna Foshee; Master Allie Bigelow; Sr. Grand Master Suzanne Gibson; Grand Master Paula O'Neal

The Piedmont Pacer folks did well: Kevin Gobble placed second in his age group with a 5:29 and Dixon Cook got first AG as well as Senior Grand Master, running a 5:50.

Oh, yeah -- I did not beat last year's time. I finished in 08:45.5.  Bleh!  OMG! In purusing the event site's photos, I came across many of the start as well as photos of folks as they came to the Finish.  Analyzing them and then looking at race results, it turns out I finished before the lady who cut me off.   (Hey, I understand -- race excitement, enthusiasm -- this may have been her first race in a bit.) But she needed more than a take down to beat this crone in this race, on this day, it seems.