Re: Tulip Run Race Report

April 11, 2004

Tory - I love all the details you shared about your run this weekend! I

don't know if you've inspired me to run...ever...but you've certainly inspired

me

to want to write better! ROFL!!

Hugs,

Bette

April 11, 2004

Hi Tory, a nice descriptive post and another great accomplishment.

" Congratulations to you and Roy "

~~Kallie~

====================================================================

In Serious-Weight-Watchers , " Tory Klementsen "

<msteechur@e...> wrote:

> Let's see if I can get through this without falling asleep. I slept

VERY

> poorly last night and had a HUGE day today.

>

> Today was the Tulip Run.

April 11, 2004

Absolutely fabulous! Sounds like you had a wonderful time and

performed very well, and big ups to Roy for finishing with a medal!

You are so right about everyone being a winner. Just being out there

is often reward enough. Reminds us how far we've come.

I've had the same thing happen with my MP3 player during a

race...urgh. Also, drinking water while racing. First time I tried it

I swallowed water alright, right through my NOSE. When I did the

half, I just slowed to a fast walk through some of the aid stations

so as to get in enough water. I always feel bad sipping my water too,

because I end up being way past the station when I need to toss my

cup. Plus, I still never am able to get enough water out of the cup

and into my belly. By walking for 10 seconds through the stations, I

was able to drink the whole cup and toss it in the last trashcan as I

ran off. You just have to make sure and not slow down right in front

of someone that isn't slowing down.

I'm insanely jealous of the awesome-sounding places you have to run

up there. Running along fields of tulips--in Arkansas?--forget about

it! Maybe running along a creek while batting misquitos.

April

April 11, 2004

Wow, Tory, what a great account of your race! I'm so glad that you

had such a good run! It sounds like an absolutely beautiful route,

too. And congrats to Roy also! You guys are awesome!!!!

in OKC <><

238/187.2/179

> Let's see if I can get through this without falling asleep. I slept

VERY

> poorly last night and had a HUGE day today.

>

> Today was the Tulip Run. Every year about this time the Tulip

Fields of

> Skagit Valley burst into color so intense that it almost hurts to

look

> at it. It's an amazing time of year. Last year at this time I was

in the

> hospital and before my surgery I stupidly thought, " Oh, when I get

out

> we can drive out to see the tulips! I can't wait! " Needless to say,

that

> did NOT happen so I was even more excited to see them this year.

>

> The Tulip Run is either a 2 mile or 5 mile run. I registered for the

> five mile and Roy opted for the two. I tried to convince him to run

the

> five with me, but it was a no go. He was fine with me running longer

> than him so I went ahead and signed up for the five.

>

> I got up early this morning after a very fitfull night. I was so

nervous

> and excited. I've run five miles before, but I've only raced up to

3.5

> miles and what if I couldn't do it? What if I had to walk? What if I

> twisted my ankle? Part of the course was trail running and I haven't

> done that, so I was kind of worried.

>

> I got up and the first thing I noticed was that my toe on my left

foot

> was throbbing. GREAT! I had noticed a toe infection coming the

other day

> and was really hoping it would not surface if I soaked in epson

salts a

> few times a day. No luck! It was hot and swollen. I lanced it and

> drained the puss. (Yick) Actually I was glad that if it was going to

> " pop " that it was ready in the morning. When those suckers get to

the

> point where the pressure from the infection builds up, it can be

REALLY

> painful. I would rather have had it do that in the morning so I

could

> relieve the pressure, than decide halfway through the run that it

was

> time to pop. I cleaned it up good and soaked it in Epson Salts for

about

> half an hour while I relaxed.

>

> After a good breakfast of oatmeal, english muffin, laughing cow

cheese,

> and tea we headed out to the Skagit Valley Airport. I was surprised

to

> see how many people were there! We'd run in the Smelt Run in

February,

> which took place in La Conner just a hop and skip from there. I was

> expecting crowds of that size, but I'd say there were a good 1000

> people. Nothing like the St. Paddy's Day Dash (over 12,000), but a

good

> amount of people. We parked and zipped in to get our numbers. I was

> number 842. Roy stood in line for hot cocoa while I stood in line

for

> cold toilet seat. After we both got our needs met (how he can run

with

> hot cocoa in his stomach is beyond me) we gathered for the pre-race

> meeting.

>

> The coordinators explained the course to us. They pointed out the

start

> and finish lines to both races and told us where water stations

would be

> along the way. Roy gave me a kiss and a hug and we wished each other

> luck then headed to our different start lines. The start was

> uneventful...I had just turned on Norah , who was my running

> partner for the first leg, when I heard " We're off " and we were!

Norah

> and I took off, each doing our part. She crooned " Butterflies " in my

> ear, and I started at a nice even pace. It felt great!

>

> Normally my first mile is my hardest because it takes awhile to get

the

> right stride, but today everything clicked right away. I'd done a

bit of

> a warm up, but not much not knowing how well I'd be able to do the

five,

> so I wasn't even warmed up as much as usual. Well Norah petered out

on

> me after her first song. My iPod froze up. Unfortunately it does not

> always enjoy the bouncing related to running and sometimes does

that,

> but this was pretty early in the game. I restarted it while running

and

> bade Norah return to my side. She did for a few minutes, then left

> again. What a wuss! Fortunately had a lot more stamina.

He

> ran with me for four songs, then I was serenaded by the Swing Tunes

of

> Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Harry Connick Jr. and I crossed the finish

> line together.

>

> The run was amazing. It was probably 60-65 when we started out. The

> skies were crystal clear. The sun was out. It was dry and cool. The

> first 1/3 of the race was on the airport access roads. As we ran

there

> were hot air balloons rising in the distance over the tulip fields.

To

> the east were the Cascade Mountains. To the west you could make out

the

> Olympics. Light planes were soaring in over our heads as they came

in

> for a landing. The air was perfumed with Spring. When the air was

clear

> you could hear lots of frogs serenading their ladies. It was a

gorgeous

> day.

>

> It only got better as we headed onto the trail section of the run.

I had

> worried about that. What would this mean? Would I be fighting

> underbrush? Would there be rocks and roots? Nope! Not at all! The

trail

> was relatively flat and obstacle free. The woods were peaceful and

> beautiful. A lot of preserved wetland surrounds the airport, so the

> woods are fertile and ripe. I hated to leave the sun to go under the

> canopy of the trees, but the sun wiggled its way through the

branches

> and kissed our shoulders as we ran.

>

> Mile one went by easy. In what felt like just a few minutes we came

upon

> our first water station at mile 1.75. Now I've never had a drinking

> problem in the past, but suddenly now I did. How does one drink and

run?

> Well, let's just say that I got a nice dousing and a little water.

Mile

> two was even easier than mile one. I hummed with the music. I

reflected

> back on the last year. I stared (carefully) at the scenery. I

decided

> that while I am a competitve person, I actually like being a " back

of

> the packer " . Much less pressure to perform! You can take time to

smell

> the roses!

>

> As we entered the woods the frontrunners were coming out and onto

> another section of road. One of them was a tall African man with

> beautiful facial tatoos. Just watching him was breathtaking. He ran

like

> a gazelle. What a joy to see a real athlete out there with all of us

> wanna-bes! I clapped for them. (Could they hear me? I don't know.)

and

> wished them well in my head as I continued on.

>

> Overall my run was just plain comfortable and easy. I didn't push

myself

> because I haven't done much running at that high a mileage, so I

> actually came in under my hoped for time...but just barely. I

managed to

> figure out the trick to drinking and running at the third water

station.

> Take the cup and slosh out a little bit (or attempt to drink it).

Squash

> the cup so that it forms a " v " at the rim, carefully sip on that as

you

> run. Unfortunately that means it takes longer to drink and by then

> everyone else had dropped their cups. I felt guilty littering so far

> away from where everyone else had, so in both the last two stations

I

> stuffed my empty cup into my wasteband.

>

> The last mile was great. While others were looking like they were

in a

> lot of pain and starting to slow down or walk, I had taken a nice

easy

> four miles so mile five I could give it a little go. When I train I

> always watch the clock and for the last 1/4 mile or 3 minutes I put

the

> pedal to the metal and try to run at a much higher pace. All three

races

> this year that practice has paid off with strong finishes. I come

across

> the finish line feeling great, not looking like death warmed over.

Twice

> people have commented that I don't look like I've just run. (Which

tells

> me I should probably crank it up a bit in the speed department.) The

> best part was Roy waiting for me at the finish line. He cheered me

on as

> I ran in and took pictures. I gave him a big smile and a high five

as I

> ran by him. That really was a big boost.

>

> My time was 50:23. I was pleased. I had hoped for at least a ten

minute

> mile. I generally run on the treadmill at 8.5-9:00 but it's

different

> outside. I had intentionally forced myself to slow down so that I

> wouldn't burn out too fast. Next time I'll have a stopwatch so I can

> bring up the pace a bit.

>

> After the race I grabbed a water and joined Roy at the finish line.

We

> talked and I was as high as a kite. I couldn't stop chattering

about how

> great I felt how amazing it was to just be there doing that today.

We

> cheered on the remaining runners. (I really wasn't a back of the

packer.

> I was more like a back of the middle of the packers, or front of the

> back of the packers.) It was great. There were elderly men and

women,

> kids, heavy people, thin people, tall, short. That's what's so cool

at

> these runs. You never feel out of place because everyone there is

at all

> different levels.

>

> The awards session was nice. Great Harvest Bread Company had

donated a

> lot of whole grain breads, including one with cranberries, dried

> oranges, and dates...oh that was good. So there was lots of good

> wholesome food (and Starbucks Coffee!!). Roy won fourth place in his

> division! He was so proud of that medal. I didn't win anything, but

I

> think we were all winners today. Why? Because on a Saturday morning

> while others were lounging in bed we were up and running, on

purpose,

> and doing good things for our bodies.

>

> Next weekend is the MS Walk, a seven mile walk on the Centennial

Trail.

> Then our next run will be May 22, the Rock and Roll Four-Oh Race in

> Seattle. It's commemorating the Beatle's first visit to the US.

We'll do

> a Street Scramble the next weekend in Seattle. Should be fun! I

swear

> I'd do a race every weekend if Roy wouldn't disown me!

>

> ~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'

> Tory Klementsen, MCP A+

> Career and Technology Educator

> www.teechur.com

> www.msteechur.com

> -The successful person will do the things that the unsuccessful

person

> will not.

>

April 11, 2004

Hahahaha Bette!

Never say never! In a year we might be reading YOUR race reports!

> Re: Tulip Run Race Report

>

> Tory - I love all the details you shared about your run this

> weekend! I

> don't know if you've inspired me to run...ever...but you've

> certainly inspired me

> to want to write better! ROFL!!

> Hugs,

> Bette

>

April 11, 2004

Hahahaha Bette!

Never say never! In a year we might be reading YOUR race reports!

> Re: Tulip Run Race Report

>

> Tory - I love all the details you shared about your run this

> weekend! I

> don't know if you've inspired me to run...ever...but you've

> certainly inspired me

> to want to write better! ROFL!!

> Hugs,

> Bette

>

April 11, 2004

Hahahaha Bette!

Never say never! In a year we might be reading YOUR race reports!

> Re: Tulip Run Race Report

>

> Tory - I love all the details you shared about your run this

> weekend! I

> don't know if you've inspired me to run...ever...but you've

> certainly inspired me

> to want to write better! ROFL!!

> Hugs,

> Bette

>

April 11, 2004

> Absolutely fabulous! Sounds like you had a wonderful time and

> performed very well, and big ups to Roy for finishing with a medal!

> You are so right about everyone being a winner. Just being out there

> is often reward enough. Reminds us how far we've come.

I just find being out there makes me want to sign up for another, and

another, and another! I think I'm actually going to sign up for another

triathlon. They have a series called " My First Triathlon " that is even

shorter than a sprint and is only open to people who have never been in

a tri before. I think it might be a nice first run, you know?

> I've had the same thing happen with my MP3 player during a

> race...urgh. Also, drinking water while racing. First time I tried it

> I swallowed water alright, right through my NOSE. When I did the

> half, I just slowed to a fast walk through some of the aid stations

> so as to get in enough water. I always feel bad sipping my water too,

> because I end up being way past the station when I need to toss my

> cup. Plus, I still never am able to get enough water out of the cup

> and into my belly. By walking for 10 seconds through the stations, I

> was able to drink the whole cup and toss it in the last trashcan as I

> ran off. You just have to make sure and not slow down right in front

> of someone that isn't slowing down.

I figured since it was just five miles I'd go ahead and get as much as I

could get. I usually don't drink on my runs until the end anyhow, so I

thought this would be a good chance to " practice " drinking and running.

On a marathon I definitely will.

My next race is in May and I can't wait. It's the Rock and Roll 5k in

Seattle in the early evening. That could be iffy, weather-wise, but it

should be fun. I love running in the city. We do have awesome places to

run here. It's only a 5k, but I'm going to do a 10k in June.

> I'm insanely jealous of the awesome-sounding places you have to run

> up there. Running along fields of tulips--in Arkansas?--forget about

> it! Maybe running along a creek while batting misquitos.

Today we biked around Greenlake. It's a 2.8 mile loop. I did three

loops, Roy did two. It was a gorgeous day and biking among people who

are unpredictable at best, and idiotic at worst, sure helps you learn to

concentrate on others! Haha!

> April

>

April 11, 2004