Woo Hoo Louise..great race report and in spite of the weather..you did
awesome. I see a Goofy medal in your future.

Daria....has got o get to bed...another 5K tomorrow --- oh no...today!


On May 16, 2009, at 6:29 PM, LouiseRDH wrote:

>
>
> Crawled out of bed at 6:15 and found it raining and cold. I hoped my
> friend (who was picking me up at 8) would call and say "are we
> crazy? We aren't really going to run in this are we?". But she
> didn't. She just showed up at exactly 8 am like the faithful insane
> friend she is.
>
> So we picked up another friend, and arrived at the race site at 8:20
> or so. Still raining. But now we're by the lake (Michigan) and it's
> raining hard, the wind is blowing about 90 per, it's freezing cold,
> and there's a LINE..........a LONG LINE...............at the pre-
> registered number pick up............outside, in the blowing
> freezing rain! We stood in line, getting drenched, for almost a half
> hour to get the darned number. Then they made me use THEIR chip
> instead of my own, which I had already strung into my shoe laces.
> Dripping wet -- literally --- I unstrung mine and strung theirs in.
> Argh. My fingers were so cold they would hardly work!
>
> Within minutes, the race started------had just enough time to run my
> race shirt back to the car and grab my now much needed gloves and
> hat. I had been grateful that I had worn a jacket with a hood, but
> it wasn't keeping the rain off my glasses, nor was it keeping me
> anywhere near dry, and I thought it might be a good idea to be able
> to see where I was going...........usually a good thing. I knew I'd
> eventually warm up......even that wet.
>
> I don't know if the start was timed or not. We did run over a sensor
> (which did chirp), but others were saying we hadn't needed to narrow
> down to run over it because it was gun timed and the mat was only
> for the finish. Huh? Must have been about 400 runners/walkers. Lots
> of Girls on the Run participants. Very unorganized event, but I
> understand they had a lot of volunteers who didn't show, so maybe
> that was the problem. Minimal food at the end.........granola bars,
> fruit, and water ----- no bananas. Most people didn't stay to claim
> their awards -- which were going to 1st in age group only -- so they
> gave some to 2nd place AGs. I ended up with another water bottle.
> Another water bottle. Hmmmmmm. I should count them up some day. Just
> like shirts. Oh, the shirts..........nice navy blue long sleeved
> (but cotton). I'll probably keep that one.........like I haven't
> kept them all..........LOL. I must have enough for at least 5 quilts
> by now.......probably more than that!
>
> This race runs thru the very exclusive areas of Bay Harbor --- multi
> million dollar homes and boats, and harbor just off Lake
> Michigan.....built on the site of a former cement plant (and
> contaminated --- they're working on that, and the methods are a
> source of big controversy here!!) Beautiful (even today). High rocky
> cliffs, beautiful gardens and beautifully maintained and manicured
> lawns. We ran sort of around the harbor (kind of around one side,
> turn around and back to the road) then up to another turnaround at
> the golf club entrance. When I passed the stone cliffs, there was a
> rock fall (small)............no, I don't think I caused it!!! LOL!!!
> Well, maybe............ A bit hilly, but coming back it was DOWN and
> I was grateful for that.
>
> I managed a 40:41 today (13:22), and I was happy for that too.
> That's actually better than the other 2 times I've done this course,
> and improved a bit from the 5K I did 2 weeks ago. As some of you
> know, I lost almost a year of decent training last year due to a
> health issue (that I think is now under control --- I hope, I hope,
> I hope). I'm literally starting over, so I'm kinda happy with these
> times. I've bitten off a big chunk by registering again for Goofy,
> and if I don't do it this time (after 2 times of going and only
> doing only the half)........it's no go again.
>
> We went to breakfast at the Bay Harbor pancake place............yum.
> VERY GOOD. Took a nap and a hot tub dip when I got home. Life is
> good. the sun even peeked out for a bit this afternoon...............
>
> Good luck to anyone else running this week end...............I'll be
> tracking a couple of you at Cleveland, and waiting for reports from
> Linda in NS, and Daria in NY!!! Anyone else running? Have fun!!!
> Hope it's dry where you are..............
>
> Louise, MI
>
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>
>



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