It's a very slow process - two steps forward, one step back - but I'm inching in the right direction. - Rob Reiner

June 05, 2011

Hospital Hill 10K Recap

Jim and I got up bright and early yesterday morning (4 am) to get ready for the Hospital Hill 10K.  The race started at 7 am, but we were leaving the house promptly at 5:15 am.  It's about a 45 minute drive to downtown Kansas City.  We swung by my friend Michelle's house so she could follow us downtown. Michelle was running the Half Marathon (and rocked it even after being at a concert until 1 am the night before).  Jim and I were both doing the 10K.

As anticipated the Three H's were in full effect:  HEAT, HUMIDITY, and HILLS!!!!  All were relentless. When we first got out of the car I thought, it's actually kind of nice, of course that was still at 6 am.  By the time the race started the sun was out and the humidity was going up.  I have been doing long runs around 7 miles with an average number of hills and I told myself to just kind of make this a training run.  It was going to be hot, just take my time, but I wanted to run all 6.2.  That was all out the window after the first hill.  As you know I'm a pretty slow runner and after trying to slow down and just take the first hill....I (as in the past) saw people walking faster than me up the hill.  I just decided not to fight it.  I would power walk up the hills and save time and energy.  I went out a bit too fast and ran my fastest mile first, but I seem to do that in every race.  Not sure when I will learn, but the first mile was probably the easiest from an elevation standpoint.  I was happy to say however, that my last three miles got progressively faster with my last mile being my second fastest, so I did save a little something for the end.

My splits:
Mile 1 - 11:41
Mile 2 - 12:57
Mile 3 - 11:59
Mile 4 - 12:42
Mile 5 - 12:33
Mile 6 - 11:58
Mile .31 - 12:08 (I also logged a "fastest pace" at 6:28....what the heck?  Is that even possible - I was sprinting at the end for sure)

My garmin showed 6.31 miles when I was done, with an average pace of 12:18.  My chip time of course was based on 6.2 so my overall time of  1:17:36 only had an official pace of 12:30.  But with the heat and humidity, and the 422 feet of elevation (according to Garmin), I was content with my results.  It's certainly not a great time, but technically it's my 10K PR since this was my first 10K race.

My husband Jim did an AMAZING job taking 1st place in his Age Group and 26th place overall out of 1410 runners (did I mention I was 1138 - quite a difference there).  He is such an awesome runner and I am so proud of his running accomplishments.  You can read his blog post here.  He has a few race photos, etc.  But I just finished a 24 mile bike ride in 95 degree heat and just writing this post is all the energy I have........so sorry no race pics except this pre-race gem! 





25 comments:

  1. LOVE that pre-race photo!! You did such a great job in that heat - I am such a wimp in temperatures over about 60 degrees! Congrats on your best 10K ever! :)

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  2. hard conditions...
    humidity is the worst of the 3 I think!
    congrats on your race and I love the pictures!!!

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  3. Congrats on your 1st 10k!

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  4. YAY!!!! Way to go!!!! The three "H's"....yuck!!! :)

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  5. I'll say it again, you guys are total Hams. And that was taken at 4:00 a.m. I want to see pics of you guys after a few margaritas. Wait, maybe I don't. Good job in hard conditions. PR Baby :-)

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  6. Way to keep going despite the nastiness! That sounds like a really tough race!

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  7. I think given the heat and humidity that I would've stayed in bed. Great job!!

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  8. You two are THE cutest! Love the fun pic :D

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  9. ooops...I mean, Jim you look very manly...and Michael - very cute!

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  10. Way to go. Even with all the 3 H's you did good. You crossed the finish line so it is all good. Great job on that run with all the hills. I hate hills. I had an 20k yesterday. I know what you are talking about when you sayt he 3 H's.. Pardon my french but my race kind of sucked. The heat and humdity just got to me. I run so early in the morning so am not faced with sun and which really steams things up along with humdity. You did awesome girl. Keep it up.

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  11. As usual...I agree with Julie...:)

    You two are the cutest couple!

    Great job on the 10k for hilly, hot, humid run you did great!!!!!

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  12. I can't believe you had the energy or ??? to dance at 5 in the morning.
    Yeah for that 10K PR. I can't wait to PR in my duathon next weekend.
    I don't do well in heat. Or on hills. My sympathy is with you.

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  13. I love reading your posts, especially when you and Jim run races together. Great job in the sweltering conditions. Another race down!

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  14. omg i love that pic of you guys! Great job on the race, especially with the three H'S working against you!!

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  15. I love the pre-race pictures and congratulations on such a great race! I have no idea how you do it in the heat, you are my hero!

    P.S. I got your package in the mail yesterday and I am so so excited. Love it all! Thanks again!

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  16. You did great, well done! The heat and humidity was obviously very bad so any run is good in my books with that. This looks like a really good event.

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  17. Congrats on completing a tough 10k! The pic is great.

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  18. Congrats on your 10K!! I love the pre-race photo of you and Jim. Very cute and fun!

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  19. Great race! Love the pre-race photo, you guys crack me up. The three H's sound rather awful, great job pushing through. Congrats!!

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  20. Way to go! It sounds like you and Jim finish like my hubby and I...at the beginning and toward the end. It is still fun to get out and run the same race though! Congrats on doing so well in the heat and humidity.

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  21. Ha! The expression on his face is awesome.

    Congrats on your new PR!!

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  22. Ugh, those conditions sound bad! But, you did great! Love the pre-race picture, too.

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  23. Cute pic of the two of you and congrats on your race! The hills would have killed me, then the humidity would have killed me again. Well done.

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