We have enrolled several of our athletes/friends/training buddies in the Chatham County Reindeer Run 5k in Pittsboro, NC for the past four seasons. They have a team division with a slightly discounted entry fee and we get to have some team fun with the race. In 2015 we finished 2nd, and this year we finished 3rd. The top 3 times from your team count towards the team score. I haven't always been a scoring participant but was this season with a sub 21 5k. I'll take it!
I overslept so instead of leaving my house at 650, I woke up then. Scrambled to get my outfit on while the coffee brewed, skipped breakfast and was out the door by 708. I got there at 742, plenty of time for an 8 oclock start. Got my stuff and headed out for a short warm up jog. As far as performance goes, doing a 9 minute warm up + 15 jumping jacks is not going to cut it. But, I made it.
The course is twisty, turny, and a bit hilly. It's not a fast course. It's a slow course. It's a slow course for slow people. And usually cold. The temps were in the low 30s for 2016. Fingers went a little bit numb. Mile splits about 6:30, 6:50, 6:15. Hilly in the middle.
Afterwards we headed to our buddies house nearby for a yummy french toast breakfast. Good times.
I've been getting in about 20 miles a week and plan to bump up to the 25-30 mile range in Jan, 35-40 in Feb and then taper off for a shot at sub 1:30 half at Quintiles half-marathon in Wrightsville Beach. Haven't broken that barrier in several years.
If you enjoy trail running, you should put the Run at the Rock at CedarRock Park in Burlington, NC on your list.
It is a pleasant, somewhat challenging trail race with 7 mile and 14 mile options. My Garmin has it at 6.5 miles which is probably closer to accurate.
The start. Duh.
Last year I opted to run very easy as I was getting over a calf strain.
Me running sort of fast
Bri didn't try to beat me this time.
This year I was closer to 100% healthy so gave it a good effort. With about 200 people on the start line (combined race start), I lined up close to the front and pushed it from the gun. Entered the woods in 8th place or so. I eventually passed a couple people and then found myself running in the 4th or 5th position with a couple guys pacing with me.
Up a hill.
We had matching FS Series arm warmers on.
We had a nice chat and kept the pace going. They passed me in a long straightaway around the 5.5 mark, and I came across with a 4th place overall for the 7 mile. My watch had me at 7:32 pace. Yay.
Check out the wiggle waggle form.
Bri has been dealing with a sore back but managed to come in 3rd place in her age group for the 7 miler as well.
Not a wiggle waggler.
Next up is the Chatham Pittsboro 5k Reindeer run tomorrow morning. We usually have a decent team in attendance and gather for a yummy breakfast at nearby bud's house after.
This is all so I can tell you something without months going by.
It's been a couple months since the Ironman, but it seems like just yesterday. By that, I mean time is racing by. A lot of life is go - go - go. Last week I recalled thinking, next week will be here before you know it. And voila! Here I am. Time is precious. So I'm making the most of it.
I've settled into a very comfortable exercise routine that will keep me fit & healthy but not create much time stress. I am setting my performance goals in triathlon next year to the lower end. For me, the time required on the bike to be good / very good even in sprint distance events is a lot. I can only do so much high intensity before burning out so the flip side of that equation is volume. Right now I'm riding 40-50 miles a week with some or all on bridle trails. In the spring I'll probably do 60-80 a week with an occasional 100+ to boost the system a little. I was in the 150-200 mile range most of the spring and summer. You have to be on task mentally to put that sort of time in. I am no longer there. :)
I'm enjoying focusing a bit more on strength and run training right now. Swimming 2x with an occasional 3rd. All told, putting in 8-9 hours a week, which is as much as I want to do for the foreseeable future.
After some time from Ironman Chattanooga, I'm happy I got it done but mildly irritated the weather took such a dump. I had a lot of fitness going into the event but wasn't able to show my better side to the faceless masses of people who analyze splits post-mortem. And that's how it goes. Won't do another one for a few years if ever. I like my bike but not as much as I used to.
Onto fun things. We have been doing lots of family fun stuff. I am making a concerted effort to spend a bit more time with Junior Awesome during the week. This is my slower work period and it's his last year in daycare. I can take him wherever for half a day without a school penalty.
More Junior Awesome racing
Camping and night hiking / day hiking with our buds
Tweetsie Railroad with Gigi (it was cold)
(Bass Lake run/bike afterwards)
Pumpkin patch with SFF!
Another pumpkin patch and corn maze visit
Halloween
NC State vs FSU Football
Durham Life and Science Museum (my birthday morning)
My birthday party at Bond Brothers Brewery (night)
NC State Miami Football tailgating
There are a few other birthday parties and random acts of funness in here but you get the drift. We're having a good time! I need to update the blog more than once every two months.
Spelling our first word with no help
In other news, my lovely wife landed a job at SAS Institute. SAS has consistently been ranked as one of the top private companies in the US to work for. They have an objective of giving their employees a good work-life balance. She has had an overall great experience working for RTI International but it's almost impossible to say no to a spot at SAS. I'm really happy for her.
I'm a big fan of outdoor sports and work as a triathlon and swim coach in Cary, North Carolina. I celebrate life with my wife Bri, my son JuniorAwesome, and my dog Tassie. We visit the beach or mountains when time and circumstance permit.
