I Ran!

And there wasn't even a crowd around me or anything!

This past weekend, I discovered that I have actually acclimated to the Denver altitude, and could actually be kind of less slow if I put some effort into it. I went to visit my parents in Texas and discovered that my sealevel cruising pace is my mile-high miserable race pace.

Huh.

Not only that, but I cruised through 4.19 straight miles with only one stop. And that one was at my grandmother's house for a glass of water. Because I could.

Oh, and that dip around mile 1 was Schooner St, which has this horrific hill I just didn't see coming. Not cool.

Anyway, I really don't have a lot more to say about it than that. I had a route planned out (3.25 miles) and then proceeded to miss literally every turn I intended to make before decided to just play it safe and stay on the main drag for a bit. It was humid and cloudy, so I was drenched by the time I got back, but it was so worth it.

Guys, seriously. I think I kind of actually like running a little bit now.

But don't tell anyone ok? I'm still undecided.

In other news, the only race in Denver this weekend is the ridiculously over-priced Christmas Carol Classic. Boo. Maybe I'll just drive down to City Park and run there anyway, for habit's sake.

Not that kind of habit. That would be a hot mess to run in. 

Race Report: Ugly Sweater Run. Or: I'm Too Sober for This Run

Today I ran the Ugly Sweater 5k.

Oy.

I guess I've been getting spoiled with all these smaller races. Last week's Rudolph Ramble had 400 or so runners. This week's run (not a timed race, but I'll get to that) had over 7000.

Seriously, 2000 more people than meters in this run. I guess that's what you get when a beer company sponsors it.

Naturally, I had to dress for the event. Nick's Aunt Kelly sent me this gem, which is not only hilariously festive, but it jingles.

That hat, sadly, stayed at the race. I put it in my pocket and it fell out somewhere on the course. I went back to look, but it was nowhere to be found. RIP Newfoundland hat...you were a good hat.

Sigh.

On a happier note, my pace improved on this course (City Park in Denver) compared to the Bare Leg Run in October:

 Bare legs official time was 26:30.

Ugly Sweater unofficial time (based on Nike Plus pace...totally not official) was 26:12. So, you know. Yay! :-)

Next run on the books (officially - I'm hoping to peer pressure my parents into running another one in Austin next weekend while I'm home) isn't until January, but I'm hoping to get myself into better workout habits between now and then. At the very least, I'm going to need to start running with the pup in the mornings since come January I'll be in clinic all day (YAY!). I just wish the sun came up before like 10 AM...

Anyway, that's today's rundown. There was a climbing comp I thought about going to tonight, but I'm going to save that $10 to put towards joining the Log n Blog team next month. :0) I'll go climb the problems tomorrow and bring some textbooks/powerpoints with me to study while I'm taking breaks.

Just 4 more days...

Quad R - Rudolph Ramble Race Report

My folks flew in this weekend for a sort of multiholiday weekend with my brother, husband, and me. Earlier this week I discovered the RunDenver race series and asked if they'd want to run the first 5k with me today. They could have justifiably said "no thanks", but they stepped up and agreed to run with us.

They're pretty awesome folks, that's why.

Sadly, I don't have a single stinking picture from that. Argh.

Here's the official pics (which, naturally, managed to capture the folks in front of us and the folks behind, but not...us. Sigh).

Anywho.

It was a good run. I ended up running with my dad the whole way, and we managed about a 9:27 pace, which isn't too shabby.

We only slowed down for a short bit just before the first mile, but kept it up the whole rest of the time. Pretty awesome. :-)

I'm not really sure what else to write as far as race reports go. I wish I had some better pictures to share, so instead here's a picture of what happens when we go to a museum.

Love my family. :-)