so I did this little race

[ilanarama]

As some of you know, I'm training for my third marathon, and bound and determined to break 4 hours (which incidentally would qualify me for Boston, at my age). Last night I ran a teeny little 5K race here...and came in third among the women at what to me was a mind-boggling 23:27 (and which I think must be slightly off - my own timer gave me 24:27, and I know I turned it off a little late, but not by a whole minute - I'm guessing I came in around 24 minutes). First was a former college track star and second was a high school track star, and their ages added together are still less than mine, so I feel pretty good.

Anyway, the amusing thing about it is that the local paper reported on the race, and although they didn't give my place, they ran a photo of me (the third photo for the article). Um, I look hot and sweaty and kind of chunky, and my ponytail is foreshortened and looks like a librarian bun. But hee, my picture in the paper this morning!

Comments

[wildcelticrose.livejournal.com]

Go You!

What age group are you in?

I have no idea what it would take me to qualify for Boston (I'll be 46 in October)

I just think it's not likely

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

I'm 44, and I'll be 45 when I run the marathon in October. So you'd be the same as me, 4:00. Are you planning for a marathon sometime soon?

I know you've been concentrating on biking instead (I'm loving your pictures) so maybe we just need to find a good swimmer and enter a relay triathon! :-)

[wildcelticrose.livejournal.com]

That would be fun, and a great excuse for me to come back down to the Colorado Plateau. Your pictures make me so homesick.

I've done two halves this year. I need a lot of work and time to get ready for a full again.

We'll see what kind of swimmer I turn out to be today and during my first triathlon tomorrow (if I don't freak out today)

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Oh, GOOD LUCK on the tri! I used to do triathlons back in the late 80s. I was trying to find my memorabilia from then to see what kind of times I was running. Funny, running was my worst and least favorite sport then - and now it's my favorite! (And you should meet barkley, who just did a tri on the other coast from you.)

[meri-oddities.livejournal.com]

Wow! That's great. I'm so impressed by that time. How's the training coming? I ran 18 this morning.

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

I ran 18 this morning, too (well, 17.6, due to user error :-) Real slow, because of yesterday's race. I'm getting excited about Baltimore!

[meri-oddities.livejournal.com]

Heh. We actually ran 17.88 for the same reason. None of us took the same route, either. *g*

[melusina]

That's a great time! And the picture is fun - I love the look of concentration on your face. . .

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you! I think I was concentrating on not throwing up on the photographer at that point :-)

[tofty.livejournal.com]

I am so in awe of your skills, speedy!

Also, there is nothing wrong with The Librarian Bun. Pretty sexy, IMO.

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Nothin' to skills - just running. A lot. Um, I kind of like it?

And my hair says thank you.

[de-wynken.livejournal.com]

That's a nice picture!

Perhaps all that hiking up and down mountains has something to do with the success ;)

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Hee, I am certain of it! I think that the running makes me a better hiker because I am able to maintain a strong uphill pace for longer stretches of time, and that the hiking makes me a better runner because it builds ginormous leg muscles. So, basically, win all around! \o/

[nothings.livejournal.com]

Wow! Go death march!

[nothings.livejournal.com]

I guess that should be "Go, death march!". I am not commanding you to go off on a death march.

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

I shall no longer lead mere death marches. They will henceforth be death sprints.

[nothings.livejournal.com]

Death Race 2000! And eight!

[askesis.livejournal.com]

I am very impressed!

So, you were right: I bit off too much and overwhelmed myself. So, three weeks ago, a friend and I started the "couch to 5k" program. It's going quite well. Today's two-mile time: 25:44. Not too bad, considering I walked for 15:30 of that.

I look hot and sweaty and kind of chunky.

I'll grant you "hot."

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

♥♥♥

I have heard good things about the C25K! I know it uses the walk/run thing, which I still do for long runs. I think it's really a smart way of getting gradually into running shape without injury. So yay you, too!

[saramwrap.livejournal.com]

Go you! Very impressive.

:D

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you!

(And the story about your mayor - and the subsequent "oopsie" - made our newspaper as well.)

[saramwrap.livejournal.com]

I suppose that once the FBI gets involved, the world starts to care a little more. ;)

[mlyn.livejournal.com]

That's phenomenal! I just did some math, and at my best running pace of all time, I would still do a 5K around 32 minutes. Congrats babe!

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you! Just keep working at it - you're doing so much varied training that I can't imagine that you won't improve.

[zebra363.livejournal.com]

Great time and nice photo!

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[shaggirl.livejournal.com]

That's really cool. You have about a bazillion times more discipline than I do!!

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Oh, phooey, it's not discipline, really. It's just that I like to do physically active stuff. And I am way competitive (which is not always a good thing). So it's not like, "must set alarm for 6am so I can go run 17 miles," it's, "hmm, the sun has woken me and it's a beautiful day, ooh, yay, I'm gonna go running!"

[shaggirl.livejournal.com]

Whatever. I'm still impressed. :)

[sobelle.livejournal.com]

Wow.

I am seriously impressed and I was already pretty durned impressed with all the hiking and mountainous climbing... and great pic too... a similar pic of me would involve para=medics and defib machines... maybe even morticians.. =/

I repeat... wow. =o

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Hee! You just need to start slowly (see my discussion with shugyou above) and that way keep the morticians out of it!

[triestine.livejournal.com]

Pah, you look *great*!

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

*mwah* thank you!

[neonnurse.livejournal.com]

Great pic! I might possibly be able to get through a 5K in 23 HOURS, so I deeply admire your accomplishment!

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Hee! Well, it's never too late to start improving your time :-) And thanks!

[revbiscuit.livejournal.com]

Woo hoo! Great time! And great photo. I trust the marathon training is going well and you are finally over your injuries? You certainly sound much happier about it.

I'm starting my 16 week programme THIS WEEK. I couldn't believe 30th November was only 16 weeks away. I never minded (and still don't) getting old, but this is ridiculous. My life is disappearing from under my nose.

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my back is still giving me grief but it's not interfering with the running. And my stupid heel - the one I am pretty sure I chip-fractured on the footboard of my bed during exuberant activity, la la la, still aches a little on the long runs and hikes. But I'm feeling really good about running.

Time goes by like ZOOOM!

[ignazwisdom.livejournal.com]

Well, I think you look great, librarian bun aside (hey, you could make it work! with some sort of librarian outfit ...). Congratulations!

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Hee, well, did you notice I'm wearing a skirt, at least? Thank you!

[ignazwisdom.livejournal.com]

No way, I thought those were shorts! Nice :)

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

http://www.skirtsportsoutlet.com/products/marathon-girl-classic.cfm

I got it as a free promo last summer and it's actually kind of nifty. Running skirts have become a real fad lately!

[(Anonymous)]

Hot? Check.
Sweaty? yes.
Kinda chunky? Not even a remote possibility!

Well done, Ilana! I'm tremendously impressed!

Eric W.

PS - I'm amused that when I previewed this with spell-check turned on, the only word it complained about was "Ilana" :-)

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks, Eric! And my poor first name never makes it through spell check!

[coeursaignant.livejournal.com]

Well, I think you look great in that picture!!!!!

(Come on, you'd just ran a race!!! But it doesn't actually matter.. I like the pic either way. :))

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you!