Double the pleasure double the fun I ran 2 races, rolled into 1!
First Up: Unleash the inner cheetah 5k
Yes I know I was silly not wearing my cheetah skirt. So I took her out of the moth balls ok not really, and finally wore her for this morning’s race.
Goals:
1. Run sub-8 minute miles.
2. Run aggressively. I am notorious for just ‘hanging’ with people.
3. Finish strong.
It was a foggy, humid morning. Pavement still wet, already in the 60’s but overcast.
Race was in memory of a beloved teacher who died of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and as a result had a huge (1000+) turnout with droves of kids.
I first noticed her in the bathroom line, with nary a fat cell to obscure it, her heartbeat pulsed visibly through every vein. She was supremely fit, muscles quivering. A puma, ready to uncoil and pounce. The body of a 20-year old but her neck and elbows told a different story. Age aside, this was a contender. Am I alone in my hobby of sizing up runners by their appearance? Hello Puma, meet The Cheetah. A cheetah with extra belly fat, but a cheetah all the same.
We lined up and all zillion kids hogged the line. We were off and I felt like Julie Andrews. The streets literally were alive with the sound of oversized slapping pre-adolescent feet and their weaving, high-fiving owners.
Puma woman must have gone airborne because by the time I was able to look up after almost being taken down by a gaggle of girls who decided to stop dead in their tracks and chat 25 yards into the race, she was at least a block ahead.
I did a good job of not looking at my Garmin. I wanted to run hard yet sustainably and let the asphalt fall where it may.
A lady in shimmery electric blue tights circa 1988 ran just ahead. I hung over her shoulder. I’ll bet she enjoyed listening to my desperate gasps for air.
Soon after the 2nd mile marker we were directed single file onto a sidewalk slick with mud. Managed not to slip or fall, but not great for pace either.
Finally it’s time. The sidewalk is over and I’m running abreast of shimmer tights. I should just pass her already. But I’m tired and almost pukey. Who says she’s not more tired though?
So I pass. She does not resist. Goal accomplished.
I hit mile 3 and turned the corner for the final stretch. I saw the clock with 23: something on it. Going sub 8 will be no problem today. What about the 3rd goal? Ugh I need to initiate a dogfight to the end? I so don’t want to. But I promised I would and there was prey up ahead so I poured it on–still can’t believe I had anything to pour. She poured as well. But lo and behold she was no match for The Cheetah!
Average Pace: 7:44
Place Overall: 82
AG Place: 1st
While not light years away from my PR, still several time zones away. But moving in the right direction. The season is young.
Rock Your Socks Virtual 10k
As soon as I got through the finishing chute, I circled back onto the course for another 3.1 to satisfy my 6.2 mile Rock Your Socks 10k mileage requirement.
Goal
Hang on to a sub-8 minute pace of some kind.
The fact that the course was closing was added incentive to hurry up.
The friendly dude at the first mile marker was closing up his donut box.
I made my second lap around the course as quickly as I could and made it back in time for the kids mile go off.
Average Pace: 7:51
10k Finish Time: 48.26
Wardrobe Note: I scoured the ends of the earth for cheetah print knee highs to no avail. So although I didn’t “Rock My Socks” at the actual 10k, I came up with an alternate TMB-esque outfit, which I ‘rocked’ during my run the following day.
You are looking some kinda FIERCE in that cheetah skirt! I wonder how many ladies were sizing YOU up beforehand. Great job kicking booty in your race and fab race report. I gotta get me a pair of those socks…
The cheetah soars! The circa 1988 tights should have been a giveaway that you could take her. And, yes, I size up everyone during the prerace routines too; if nothing else, it sends my adrenalin up (and it is now just thinking about my next race).
Congrats on your win and meeting your goals.
Great outfits! You look awesome in the cheetah skirt and your socks are FUN!
Congrats on your 5K (x2) performance!
You look super fab in both outfits! I love it!
Great job on your race! Love the Pippy Longstocking picture 😉
Great racing! And you looked cute to boot!
Love both outfits! Congrats on your race!!
Love the skirts AND the socks! Awesome job on the 5K, and then to go out and speed through the course again . . . impressive!
Great report… way to own that cheetah skirt! Love the stripy socks too. 😛
Whoo hoo! I LOVE your race reports! And awesome job on holding sub 8's for an entire 10K! You are going to rock this racing season!!!
Loved the outfit!
woot to the cheetah! awesome job to beast both races 🙂
I love both outfits! Those socks a awesome.
You were a killer out there. Great job. I do that too, sizing up the other runners and picking ones I dream of ca-chicking off during the run.
I saw you! I ran the Lew Blond run this year – it was my very first race ever, and I was slow, but beat my goal time by a minute and a half, so I was happy. GREAT JOB!
Great job on your 2 runs 🙂 I think we may have rocked the same socks but you got me beat with the super cute skirt.
Gutty racing performance!!! Mind of matter…
also, I need to get my hands on some kind of cheetah print material running clothing for men!
Way to channel your inner cheetah!!! Great running!
Love the second outfit!
Cheetah Woman rocks it! Way to go, and very cool race report. Thanks to you now, I have taken up your idea on this virtual racing thing. It is very cool. THanks.
Sounds like you had a great race. Love the medal and the socks too!
Glad you wore the cheetah skirt! Great racing 🙂
You are oh so stylish and you can run too! Go Girl!! Enjoyed the race reports, thanks for sharing! Have a great week.
Love the socks!!! Congrats on two great races.
Great job!!
Love both the outfits 🙂
Good Lordy, girl, you are getting SPEEDY!!! (and why is it that I'm just getting slower 🙁 ). I love your cheetah skirt, yowzie you're looking so good!! So happy that things are coming together for you :). I'm going to do your donation thing for Lupus but I gotta wait til I get paid on Wed, sorry!!
You cracked me up with the shimmer tights lady! Great race recap 🙂
Sweet cheetah race!
Great job on both runs! I always love reading your race reports – they are always so funny! Shimmer tights!
Awesome job! I'm a new follower and just wanted to say hello!
aleeanddan.blogspot.com
Awesome run! Can I just say that you're looking incredibly fit?!
OMG, you had me cracking up cheetah girl. GREAT race recap! Congrats on your speedy results!
Funny race post. Awesome job meeting your goals for both races!
You are awesome!! Way to go! Love your outfits 🙂
LOVE you in the cheetah print, Marcia. So cute and frisky! You are looking fit and fast!
way to go! i love the "be aggressive" goal. GREAT pace, FAB race, and AWESOME outfit!!!!!!!!!!! congrats on 1st AG!!!
Hi Marcia,
Awesome job on both of your races!! You did great:) I would love to have your 10k time…just a wee bit jealous! I also think you look fantastic in your running skirts:)
Great race and congratulations on first place in your AG! I love your outfits.
congrats on the double races! i can neverrr make myself go back out for more mileage after running/racing hard 🙂 more power to you! you certainly killed the sub-8 goal, that's for sure.
cute outfits!
two race reports for the price of one!? Nice! 🙂
I am super jealous of your AG award. Way to hang in there and finish strong.
You look awesome!! Great job on your run and congrats on the 1st place!
Nice work holding the sub-8 pace after the race was over! I can barely even make myself run at all after a race finish, let alone at a good pace–so I have to do my extra miles before the race! 🙂
Awesome job on both races and the outfits!
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