Running Ramblings

This past Saturday Scott and I had a "his and hers" workout. I ran the Randy Simmons Memorial 5k, for a fallen LAPD SWAT officer, while Scott participated in a Crossfit Challenge, also for the fallen officer. It's been a long time since Scott and I have worked out side-by-side, and it was more fun than I remember. He cheered me on as I crossed the finish line while I cheered him on as he did an insane amount of burpees, pull-ups, and power snatches. We need more his and hers workouts.

(P.S. Scott's Crossfit team won the group challenge, and Scott individually placed 3rd overall. He won't toot his own horn, but I will. Way to go, babe!)

Marcus greeted me at the finish line of the 5k.
Don't those guys just look miserable after their challenge? HA!

After this last weekends run, and after the LBC 1/2 I ran a few weeks ago, a few things have come to my attention:

• I cannot, for the life of me, understand why women get all done up (full blown hair and make-up) for a running event. Am I the only female who POURS sweat after the first 50 feet of any run? I would look like a hot mess if I slapped makeup on before a run. 
• It was obvious a few people bathed in their perfume/body spray/cologne before their run. At one point I was almost gagging the fumes were so strong. When I'm running I want fresh air, not the latest fragrance from Estée Lauder. 
• Walkers, BEAT IT! I don't know how many walkers I practically ran over during the Long Beach 1/2. I appreciate walkers and their miles just as much as any running mile. But, for the love of pavement pounding, if you are a walker, PLEASE move your happy pace to the back of the chute. Or, better yet, line up in the slower waves.
• No matter how many times I tell myself I'm just going to go "nice and easy" for a 5k I always end up going to the hilt. Saturday I rolled in at 24:42. Not my greatest, but certainly not my worst.
• It doesn't matter how often you see wildlife during your runs nothing prepares you for a coyote. Nothing. (During the 5k a coyote jumped out of the bushes, roughly 10 feet ahead of me - EEK!)
• You can train for 13.1 miles, but any 5k that has the first two miles going solidly uphill is going to stink. That last downhill mile is pretty much a breeze, though. 

Just for the fun of it, some LBC race day photos I don't want to pay for, and running by the numbers (and because I need to keep this documented somewhere).

With 14,000 participants I was pleased with my overall placings.

I love this legend and all the information it provided for my run. I wish all races had a breakdown like this.

Mile 5 I was obviously feeling on top of the world. Mile 12 I clearly wanted to die.

Until the next race!

Speaking of next race... I'm dying to get back to KC in June to run the Hospital Hill Half Marathon. It's always the first Saturday in June. Who wants to run it with me?