Bugjuice, Bad Movies and a 5K

Date: 12/31/2011
Route:  Belle Isle New Years Eve 5K
Distance: 3.1 miles
Pace: 9:28/mile
Total Time: 29:22
Temp: In the low 40's

I was carpooling to this race with three "gentlemen," who all loosely belong to a Facebook running group I am a member of. In true JD style, they are all faster then me. So getting to the race involved driving to Canton, then Dearborn, then Detroit. Always interesting conversation with a crew like this. Some running chatter mixed in with movie trivia (seriously, movies I had never heard of, these guys are practically ancient) ;). It is always nice to have company at a race, even if it is someone to identify your body afterwards.

The atmosphere was festive, quite a good crowd there. We were dismayed that with so many people running, there were only 4 porta johns. I firmly believe that race directors use some sort of arcane math formula to get the number of porta johns to have on race day.

Here is an example for this race:
(X + Y + Z / 200,000) x .0001 = P

where:
Entrants = X
Expected Spectators = Y
Workers and Volunteers = Z
# of porta johns to have on hand = P

I think they use this formula and then add 1 just to "be safe". Craziness

I had almost no expectations going into this race. The weather was toasty for December, great running weather. I have a goal of running a sub 9 minute mile pace for a 5k this year, but I figure that will come later once I am in hard core training mode for all the half's I am going to run this year. My last 5K, was the Jamesers 5k, which I magically won my age division at a blistering 9:18/mile pace. I was hoping to get under 9:30/mile, but would have been fine with anything under 10.

I also was going to use my new Garmin Forerunner 405, that had arrived 29 hours before race start time. So part of my goal in the race was to check out the results and see if they were helpful. Full review of the 405, including performance at this race soon.

So we take off and I am pressing the pace a little, picking it up in the last quarter mile of the first mile. I crossed the first mile at 8:53, right about where I wanted to be. This was also nice because we had a chance to pass by the Scott Fountain, which is pretty impressive. Unfortunately the scenery went downhill quickly. Mostly in mile 2, we got to see some of the old abandoned structures on the island. It is very sad, because it is clear that Belle Isle was once very beautiful. Don't get me wrong, it is not like there was trash everywhere, and drug dealers hanging out, it was just...shabby. You could tell that maintenance was not getting done. Everything looked like it could use a coat of paint.

At the 2 mile mark we were right by the conservatory, which did look very nice. I felt myself slowing down, there was just not much in the tank to push the pace that third mile. I was very happy with my pace up to that point. As we ran by the Dossin Great Lakes Museum (wow could this place use a new building), I was in that situation where some people were starting to pass me, and I hate that. In the Detroit Half, it was great starting slow and then passing people for 10 miles, great motivation. So I tried to pick up the pace but no avail, the body was unwilling.

I cruised across the finish line, and checked the Garmin, which said I had ran 3.18 miles, so it gave me a pace of 9:14 a mile, but taking that time for 3.1 miles it gave me 9:28 a mile. I guess I have no reason to be mad, but it frustrated me that I could not pick up the speed in that third mile. So that is my goal going forward in 5k's, to push myself in the 3rd mile. I know I said I would give a full Garmin review later, but if you want to check out the page for this race, click here (I do LOVE the map feature)

So end result was right about where I had expected to be. I think getting in the 8's is going to be harder then I thought. After the race, there was the requisite bananas and  bagels, but there was also something called Bugjuice Naturals, which is a mixture of fruit juice, vegetable juice and milk....and man is it tasty. If some marketing guy from that company wants to send me a case, I will sing their praises for a while :). Apparently it is something new because it is not even available on their website yet. Back to the training grind, the next race is a half in March!

In The Middle of the Holiday Madness

Date: 12/23/11
Route:  Hines Park 6 Miler
Distance: 6.41 Miles
Pace: 10:31/Mile
Running Temp: 27 (First run of the season not in shorts)


 Date: 12/26/11
Route:  Reverse Hines Park 4 Miler to meet CE and Wife at a Park
Distance: 2.71 Miles
Pace: 9.43/mile
Running Temp: 45 (Back to shorts)

Amongst the madness of the holiday scheduling, I was hoping to cram in a couple of runs with my good friend and dislocated Michigander, Rosiecat. Somehow she has sauntered off to the alluring warmth of Texas for the past few years, so I was hoping to reintroduce her to some chilly Michigan runs while she was in town for the holidays.

We had a chance to run on the 23rd and the weather lived up the the almost Christmas expectations I had laid out. Regrettably, I put on pants for the first time this season, as the temp was about 27 degrees, a little below 20 with wind chill. After getting all geared up we were out the door and flying down into Hines Park. It is amazing how nice it is to have some conversation while running.  If you want a brief primer, check out my description of running conversations here. It was perfect winter weather for a run, and about halfway though, the sun came out and we were able to amble by some great scenery together with the sun shining and conversation flowing.

We even ran a little farther then promised, coming in at 6.41 miles, running part of what is usually my cool down. I think when it is 27 you do not want to have a .75 mile cool down. I have a feeling in January, my cooldown is going to be laps in my basement.

On the day after Christmas, we had a chance to do a short run, meeting up with CE and The Wife at a park. They decided to take CE's shiny new Radio Flyer (thanks Grandma and Grandpa D.) out for a spin since the weather was so nice. It was back in shorts for me, no gloves, with the temp being so high. Rosie being the Olympic sprinter that she is, set a bristling pace of 9:43 a mile and proceeded to actually be able to carry a conversation at this speed. I am pretty sure I just mumbled "yup" between gasping for breath.

It was really fun to meet up with CE and The Wife at the park, kind of gives you motivation to run. So thanks to Rosie for putting up with my weird route running and mumbling conversation. I promise to eventually get down to Texas to run with you.....just not in July,.

There was also much rejoicing as JD received 22 GU's for Christmas (mmmmmmmm....glucose polymers), a couple of pair of excellent running socks, a sexy New Balance cold weather jacket (no need really, apparently Michigan is going to have a winter like Tennessee or something), and a sweet water bottle. Full equipment reports to follow after extensive field testing.

I also have a race coming up, the Belle Isle New Years Eve 5k, my last one of 2011, or my first one of 2012, depending on how you look at it. I should be running with some friends, so I am sure a good time will be had by all,. Lots of exciting things going on!