OWS Challenge & Aquathlon: Oh Buoy!

After my rather...umm....dramatic swim at Redman 70.3 last year I decided that I would like to gain more experience with open water swimming in a race situation.  I got a big dose of experience at the Texas Man Tri in May (hello chop!) and I eagerly signed up for the Open Water Swim Challenge & Aquathlon in mid-July.  This race is produced by our friends at Tri-Now and I wanted to do it last year, but it was cancelled thanks to the spring floods.  I chose the Olympic distance, which consisted of a 1500m swim followed by a 10K run.  Because life is...well...life, I didn't get a chance to do any open water swims between Texas Man and the Aquathlon, but that is okay as my goal was getting a good experience in a race environment rather than swimming a fast race.  There were no bikes at this event and I felt like I was forgetting something as Mr K and I headed out on race morning.  It reminded of just how much "stuff" bicycles add when they are involved.

Big smiles from Mr K, Marshall, and Keith

The weather wreaked havoc on the race crew with the big storms that came through the evening before the race.  Thankfully Frank and Marshall and the crew worked tirelessly and were able to get things prepared our race to go off on time.  The weather was pretty good for a July morning  and they water was just about perfect without any chop. There were several swim distances that day including 750m, 1500m, and 4K and there were various buoys noting each distance.  Since I was swimming the 1500m, I would do two of the smaller loops.

My swim wave went off first and I just worked on getting into a good groove.  There area was big enough that there was not too crowded and I never did swim into too much traffic. The course was set up like a big square that we basically had to swim out to.  I made it "up" the first side of the square and turned at the buoy and began to look for the next buoy.  We were swimming directly into the sun at this point and my goggles had fogged up, so I was having a really difficult time seeing.  I could not see the buoy, but I was hoping the others around me could and I could follow their lead for a little bit.  It was then that I heard swimmers talking to each other and I realized that they couldn't see the buoy either.  I wasn't sure what to do at this point, but remained calm and tried to work out a plan.  I could see the a couple of kayaks ahead and I knew that I could pause there long enough to clear my goggles.  The kayaks kept moving away from me and I could hear that they were also trying to tell people where the swim course was.  Eventually I reached them just in time to hear one of them say "I am the buoy! I am the buoy!" I was very thankful to make that turn once I reached them and cleared my goggles.  Now to finish that loop and do it one more time.  Thankfully, by the time we came around the second time the buoy had been placed and things seemed a little more normal.

Big smiles on the run (Pic: Carin S.)

I happily got out of the water and headed on to transition for my run.  I did not know what to expect as I have never gone directly from swimming to running like that.  It was a challenge to get going at first, but I settled into a groove.  The run course was two loops of the park path - park of it on sidewalk and part of it was a crushed granite type surface.  There was a good amount of shade, which I was very thankful for.  I didn't pay too much attention to my pace, rather ran by feel and kept things nice and even.  I was happy to see that my pace was trending faster with each mile while my heart rate was staying fairly controlled.  I had not been doing any speed work at this point in training and I wasn't really sure what to expect. Because it was two loops, I saw many runner faces multiple times and it was fun to cheer on my friends who were also running.

I promise there were more than 2 of us (okay, so there were 3...)

I gave it my best for a strong finish (and my fastest mile of the race), but honestly had no idea how I did. While I feel fairly confident about my run, I know that I am not a fast swimmer so I had no idea how I placed amongst the others.  I didn't see any other women my age on the run course, so I took that to be a good sign.  I was thrilled when I checked the results and found that I was first in my age group.  (Never mind the slight detail that there were only 3 people in my age group...) with a total time of 1:32:30 - 37:00 for the swim, 52:56 for the run, and 2:32 in transition.

This race was super fun and provided another good experience in the open water - add "can't find my buoy" to my list another with high chop and lost nose clip. I always come away from these wishing that I was able to spend more time in the water and knowing that I am better for having another one under my belt.

Jiggle Butt 5K: Records are made to be broken

Two small syllables can strike such fear in this runner's heart: Five K.  I run marathons and I spend hours at a time on my bike. How hard can a 3.1 mile run be?  The hardest, if you are doing it right - the phrase "verge of instant death" comes immediately to my mind!  I know that 5Ks are good for me and that I should be running them more often, but I end up only running one or two a year.  I'm sure that I could name many reasons why this is so if I really thought about it - I'd rather spend the time running longer distances, I'd rather spend the race entry budget on longer races, I'd rather run slower for a longer amount of time...you get the picture.  My 5K personal record (PR) dates way back to the Cougar Prowl in April 2012 and I was starting to think that it would be one of those records that lived forever.  I ran that 5K in 24:22 on a pancake flat course on a wonderfully cool morning.  I have come close a few times, but just have not been able to break through that plateau.

I have been running so strong since Redman 70.3 and at one point in December I decided that I should try a 5K again sometime soon.  My interval workouts and tempo runs were going so well and I had a great run at the Dallas Marathon Half, the moment was right.  It worked out perfectly that one of our favorite races, the Jiggle Butt 5K, was coming up on January 9.  I ran this race with my friends in 2014 and we had a great time.  I remembered that it was a good course and I had a pretty strong run that day too, one of my faster 5Ks at the time.  Looks like the stage was set - game on.

Irene, Mama C, Drum, and Me (Photo: Mama C)

I began to wonder, though, as my car was blowing all over the road on the way to the race - wind is not my favorite and it was high! Run hard and see what happens - that became my plan for the day.  I met Drum, Mama C, and Irene shortly before the race which was held on the University of Arlington campus.  There was a good crowd there and lots of positive energy - the magic of race day! I ran a super short warm-up and it was time to go. Gulp. Run hard. See what happens.

 I decided to only check my pace when the miles beeped and to watch my heart rate to insure that I was working hard enough.  I also decided that when I passed someone I would work my hardest not to let them re-pass me.  The wind was coming strong from the north and the course was not super hilly, but it wasn't flat either.  My strategy was to run harder when I was running downhill and/or the wind was at my back.

Traditional A-Frame Hug - who knew we would both PR?! (Photo: Mama C)

Before the race I heard someone say that they'd run the course during their warm-up and that it was long.  I was not excited to hear this, but what can you do?  My mind was put at ease a bit when the mile 1 marker came up before my watch chimed a mile.  This was the case throughout the race so I knew that it wasn't going to be as long as I feared it would be.  Oh well, better to PR on a long course than a short one - right?  My watch chimed and when I looked at it I saw 7:38, right on pace!

My other plan was to get to mile 2 and try to maintain my pace before making a push in mile 3.  I'm not sure how this actually played out, but I kept that steady effort during mile 2 and was rewarded with a 7:39 split.  Consistent to the very end, that is how I roll.  We were turning in and out of the wind and the course was rolling a bit so I felt very pleased to see this progress so far.

This snowman needs a cheeseburger or two (Photo: Mama C)

I prepared myself for mile 3 - just keep pushing, MK, you are on pace for that long desired PR!  The spectators were few in number but big in spirit and I appreciated the occasional distraction that they provided.  The Jiggle Butt is an all-women's race that raises money for victims of domestic violence at the Safe House so many of the volunteers and course guides were men.  Funny guys, let me tell you.

I headed south and on a street parallel with the finish when a spectator told me that there were only about 4 blocks to go.  How could it be sooo faaarrrrrr? I could hear the timing mat beeping and that was a good sound in my ears.  We turned a corner and headed north, into the wind and directly to the finish line - maybe a quarter mile to go!  I focused on the finish line and pretended that it was pulling me towards it like a laser beam.  I glanced at the time on my watch and knew that it would be so close, but totally in reach.  Run hard, MK!  Somewhere in this home stretch I caught a glimpse of Drum on the sidelines and she screamed "use your arms!" Oh wow - I forgot that I had arms!!  They really helped in that final push too. Hello finish line!!  My final mile came in at 7:40 and my final time was 24:05 - I got that PR by nearly 20 seconds!

Cool down shenanigans with Drum (Photo: Mama C)

I got a bottle of water and walked down the sideline as the feeling of imminent death slowly began to leave my body.  Dang, that felt good.  I found Drum and we got a couple of cool down miles and found Mama C and Irene.  Drum told me that she came in 2nd overall and also got a new PR herself (so speedy, that one!).  I thought that I might have placed, but I had no idea until I checked the results and found that I was first in my age group.  Icing on the cake, for sure!  I had just raced a nearly 4 year younger me....and I won!

Photo: Mama C

I credit much of this new PR to the different approach to training that came with my Redman 70.3 training, but I credit an even bigger part of it with my renewed mental game.  My mantra for the new year has been "fearless" and I think that is showing up in my training and my racing.  It was so reaffirming to start the year off with a new PR - I can't wait to see what happens next!

Dallas Marathon Half: Run As If....

Marathon weekend in Dallas has been a favorite of mine for many years.  Long before we were runners, Mr K and I were involved with the race as Mr K and his cousin Brock manned (pun intended) the Dolly Parton Hills - a spot on the race course with two small hills right next to each other.  It was always a thrill to see the runners come by and I thought that they were just so cool, running all that way.  Little did I know...The Dallas Marathon (formerly White Rock Marathon) continued to hold a special place in our running calendar as it was Mr K's first marathon in 2008 and my first marathon in 2011.  I have run the half every year since 2008, except for 2011 (when I ran the full) and 2013 when it was cancelled by the great Icepocalypse.  The race has changed names once and the course has changed at least four times in those years, but I feel as if the race is finally starting to find a groove.  This half course is one of my very favorite - it starts to trend downhill after the halfway mark and it highlights some of the best parts of one of my favorite cities.

American Running Greats Dishing Out Advice

I know that some people are not huge fans of race expos, but I usually enjoy this one.  There are many opportunities to cross paths with frunners, great speaker panels, great deals on run gear, and just an overall positive energy.  We usually run into Beth and Teal from Life Is a Run and this year was no different.  We also happened to stumble up on a speaker panel that included Meb Keflezighi, Ryan Hall, Becky Wade, Deena Kastor, Desi Linden, and Molly Huddle.  Seriously, how often do you see that kind of star power represented on a stage?  We are talking Olympic medals, Boston Marathon wins, New York City Marathon wins, and too many records to count!  I love that the stars of our sport are so open and so approachable.  I also love that two of the top runners on that panel are in my age group!  Shout out to the 40 year olds!  They each gave a tidbit of advice to the audience and I soaked it all up like a sponge.  Ryan started out by telling us not to worry about the weather (there was rain in the forecast) and think only about the things that we could control, Meb told us to take one mile at a time and focus on doing what needed to be done for that mile, Deena talked about how she talked to her old and new cells, and Desi gave me the best piece of advice yet.  She said that she trains and runs "as if...." explaining how she trained, raced, acted "as if" she was the Boston Marathon champion all the way until the finish line (and then laughing when she finally had to accept that she was not the champ).   Great advice for racing and for life.

I was on TV!

Mr K and I both had big goals for the day - his was to get a picture running with Meb whilst wearing his Dolly get-up and mind was to run a solid race.  Reasonable, right? Race morning came and it was raining, just as predicted.  I wasn't worried as it wasn't especially cold or windy outside like it was during my marathon in 2011.  I arrived super early and hung out in my car until time to walk over to the race area.  I had one disposable poncho left, courtesy of Marci and it was just what I needed as I waited around for the race to start.  I knew that this would be the worst part as I was a chilly standing around in the rain.  Thankfully, the rain tapered off just before the start of the race and was not much of an issue again.  It didn't matter too much anyway, remember what Ryan said?

I had been running well in training and knew that I had a shot at running a strong race on a really great course.  My plan was to run mostly by feel and only get my paces at the mile marks while keeping an eye on my heart rate, I was hoping for a negative split as well as I knew this course was a gradual downhill in the second half. I had also been "encouraged" by Stude (remember him from the closing miles of DRC Half?) to run the final two miles at a sub-8:00 pace.  I didn't know if this was possible, but I knew that he would be checking so I'd better at least try.  I love the start line of a big race like this one - so much energy! I focused on getting a solid start and settling into an even pace.

Spotted by the Running Paparazzi (Pic: Jesse) 

I kept Meb's words in my mind, thinking only of the mile I was running and what I could do to make that a good mile.  My miles were gradually getting faster and my heart rate was staying nice and steady.  I knew that Mama C would be spectating in the Texas Rangers Zone in the West Village as her husband, John, was running the marathon.  Sure enough, she was there and I gave a big wave to her and Irene and Dewbs before heading on towards Turtle Creek.  This is the beginning of the most beautiful part of the course as Turtle Creek took us to Highland Park and the well-known Beverly Drive.  The trees here were vibrant with colors and the stately mansions homes were decorated for Christmas. I started well behind the 2:00 pace group, but found myself running near them all through this section.  Their pacing seemed to match mine and I decided to hang with them for a bit.  I knew that I was on pace for sub-2:00 since I started after them, might as well use the boost while I could.

Pic: Jesse

Run as if....these words echoed in my mind and I tried to run this race as if I were running my best, fastest half marathon ever.  We crossed over Central Expressway around mile 7 and headed towards my favorite part of the race - Greenville Avenue.  The rain didn't stop the spectators from making some noise along this stretch.  The FC Dallas Zone was here as well as the Dallas Mavs Zone - so much energy!  There is just something cool about high fiving a Mavs Maniaac dancer, those guys just rock.  I passed the 2:00 pace group for good at this point and found myself running step-for-step with the 4:00 marathon pace group.  The pace felt really good and I stayed with them until the marathon course split away from the half course around mile 10.  I was on my own now and I had two "fast" miles looming ahead of me.

Great seeing Jesse out there on the course (Pic: Jesse)

I was surprised to hear someone call my name as they passed me and looked up to see Jesse, the running paparazzi, snapping pictures as he ran by.  The final three miles of a half are hard as the mind starts to wander to the finish line.  Remember what Meb said....focus on the present.  It probably didn't help that this part of town was not the most scenic or inspiring.  I listened to the conversations of those around me to provide a diversion.  Mile 11 was coming to a close and I knew I was about to have to dig deep.  Here goes nothing!  I didn't quite make my goal as mile 12 came up at 8:29 - still my fastest mile of the day but not quite where I wanted to be. I couldn't really tell where I was on the exertion level because my heart rate monitor was not functioning properly (seriously, it may have felt like 254 bpm, but I knew that it wasn't). I dug in for the final mile and committed to pushing through the discomfort, for it was only temporary. It was hard and I was counting the meters until the finish line.  Run as if, right? Mile 13 came in at 8:01 - close enough - I could see the finish line and then I ran like heck, trying to pass as many people as I could at the very end.  My final quarter mile came in at a 6:56 avg pace.  Hooo leee geeze.

I took a moment or two to try not to die collect myself and I headed over to the medals where I heard someone calling my name - it was Nikki! I love it when I can get my race medal from a friend, it was a nice surprise to see her there.  Jesse and I posed for a picture and I wandered to the finisher's area where I checked my phone to see my official results.  I was beyond pleased with what I saw, I'm not sure that I could have dreamed up a better race for myself.

After I checked my results, I opened Facebook and the first thing I saw was Mr K (dressed as Dolly) running down the road beside Meb.  He did it!  We both had big goals for the day and we both executed them perfectly.  That picture will forever make me smile, the Dollies strike again.

Dolly and Meb

I picked up my checked bag and my free beer and soon enough I heard the sound of helicopters overhead - the marathon winner was close!  I was rooting for Logan Sherman, local runner and chiropractor, and I was thrilled when I saw him come across the line.  The atmosphere was electric too!  It was so awesome to see such a deserving guy's dream come true.

So there you have it, the story of my fastest half marathon since the Oklahoma City Marathon Half in April 2013. I'm so happy with this race and so proud of myself.  I had found myself stuck in a rut, having not run anything faster that 1:58 since January 2014.  I really wondered if my fastest days were behind me, but now I know that is not the case. I'm super jazzed about 2016.  Run as if....

Too Hot To Handle 15K: Adventures in SLOW

Sunday was another one of those days where running and music collide. It started bright and early with the Too Hot To Handle 15K and continued with a matinee performance at the Meyerson Symphony Center with my wind ensemble, the Metropolitan Winds, and ended with me in a lump on my sofa.

When I noticed that the Metropolitan Winds concert would be a matinee performance (unusual for the group) I considered not running Too Hot To Handle because I knew that the schedule would be very hectic. However, Too Hot To Handle is a favorite of ours and a tradition as well--not to mention the great race swag (nice tech tank and a sweet running cap). This is one of the bigger races and that means that it is a great opportunity to meet up with running friends both old and new.


With Mark L. Pre Race

The alarm sounded at 5:00, of course, I checked the weather--I'm not sure why I bother these days because it will be the same from now until mid-September. Yep, 83 degrees at 5:00 am...survival is the name of the game today. Erik and I arrived at the race and spent most of our pre-race time in the potty line. It looked like most of the other race participants were there too so it gave us a good opportunity to chat with some friends. We lined up with the rest of the crowd and were on our way and I immediately thought "I'm so not feeling this" my body felt heavy and slow from the very beginning. We held a good pace for the first couple of miles, but began to slow a bit as we went. I really think that our running speed was pretty good and consistent, it was the stops at the water stations that slowed the overall pace. We really took our time to get a good drink and spend a bit of time under the sprinklers. I have never poured water on my head during a race...until now, and it felt so refreshing as it rolled down my spine.

We crossed the finish line several minutes behind my goal for the day and I was so thankful to be finished. At the finish line they were handing out towels that had been soaked in ice water. I had to brace myself for the cold as I put the towel over my head...oh my! I am pretty sure that this is the best idea ever for a hot weather race.

Total Time: 1:32:35
35 out of 102 in Age Group

My summer mantra is "miles are miles" but I found it hard not to be disappointed in myself after this race. I ran the same race 5-6 minutes faster last year in the same kind of weather and this is likely a new personal worst for the 15K distance. I know that I am capable of running faster, but I felt that it was more important to try to stay cool and hydrated...that and the whole concert thing---that takes some energy too and I didn't want to be a zombie on stage. I signed up for this race as a chance for a focused run before El Scorcho next Saturday and El Scorcho is still my main goal for the month. Running in the heat is no joke and I know that I am not a great hot weather runner. Case in point: I ran this same course 13 minutes faster in January at Too Cold To Hold. How many days until the first freeze?


Smiling With Elaine Post Race

We spent some time talking with friends and cooling off in the shade and then it was time to rush home. In an hour's time I transformed from my running look pictured above to this:



I spent the afternoon performing American music with my colleagues in the Metropolitan Winds. It is always a thrill and an honor to take the stage at the Meyerson....and I realized that this was my 10th anniversary concert with the group...how is that even possible? We had a great crowd and I was happy to look out from the stage and see my mom and dad, brother and sister-in-law, and Erik in the audience. Making music is a wonderful thing to do, but it is even better when you can share the experience with family and friends. Erik took this picture during the concert, you can see me on the end of the top row on the left side-above the harp.



There isn't any reprieve from the summer heat--next up El Scorcho 25K. What is El Scorcho, you ask? Pure craziness....a race that starts at midnight at a park in Ft Worth. At 15.5 miles it will be my longest race ever and it will be filled with friends, tutus, blinky rings, water guns, and a showdown between the Ninja and Drum. I. Can't. WAIT!!

(Special thanks to Mark L, Mark O, EW, and Erik for the pictures)

Liberty 5K: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Running.

July 3 brought the annual Liberty By the Lake 5K, a favorite race of ours for many reasons. The 2008 Liberty 5K was my first race ever and I consider it my "anniversary" of running. It is the first race that Erik and I did together and I remember being so proud of both of us when we finished for the first time. The logistics are just alot easier as the Liberty 5K is held right here in our little suburb, so we don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to drive to Dallas.

I woke up to the sound of rain and was hoping for a rainy race, however, the rain held off and left us with a heavy blanket of humidity. We arrived at the park and immediately spotted a group of runners in hot pink Heels and Hills shirts. Libby Jones, Heels and Hills Half co-director was there with some members of the Lucky 13 Run Team. Libby and Jamie were both doing the inaugural 10K race. We also found Mary, her daughter Kama, and Linzy--a friend from work. One of my favorite things about running is the people that I have met, and I was thinking about that as I started the race.

I have been thinking about a huge goal for several months now: to place in the top 3 in my age group in this race. I knew that it was possible as I finished 5th place a year ago. I knew how much I needed to improve to be good enough for 3rd place and I had been focused on it over the last few weeks. I really wanted a trophy, and I knew that it would take a new 5K personal record (PR) to get it.

We started near the front and I took off pretty fast--faster than I usually do--and the humidity hit me square in the face. Holy cow! This was going to be the hardest 3.1 miles that I have ever run. I knew that I was moving faster than usual and was pleased to reach the 1 mile mark in 8:10. I also knew that I would have to hold that pace for two more miles...ugh. Erik and I ran together the whole way and it was nice to have someone to share some of the hard work with. At one point Erik asked if I was "chewing the air" like he was. Indeed, the conditions were not great for a PR.

We hit mile 2 in 16:22, making the second mile in 8:12 and holding a good pace. Mile 3 felt like four miles instead of one and I felt pretty sure that I was coming undone just a little bit. I knew what I needed to do and tried to keep on pushing, picturing my goal as I struggled to get a deep breath. I was so happy to see mile 3 that I didn't check my watch to see if we were, indeed, slowing. I really wanted to cross the line before Erik and tried to wait long enough before engaging in my final big kick. I feel certain that he knew this and was also biding his time until I made my push. Sure enough, I kicked it up a notch and Erik did too, crossing the line just before me. I was pleased to see 25:22 on my watch, and I thought that I might, just maybe, have managed to get a third place finish. I am not going to lie, I felt terrible the moment that we stopped running. It was just impossible to get a breath and I wanted to sit down more than anything. However, as soon as I got some water and walked around a minute I felt normal again. A look at the final results show that even though Erik crossed the line before me, we somehow ended up with an exact tie as his time was also 25:22. We must have started at slightly different times.


After the race we met up with Jamie (one of the Heels and Hills gals), Mary, Kama, and Linzy and waited for the awards to be handed out. I was still not sure if I had placed and it was fun to see runners of all ages getting trophies. When they got to my age group they announced 3rd place and it wasn't me....but then they announced 2nd place and called my name!! I don't think that I could have been smiling any bigger when I went to get my trophy. I have never won an award for anything athletic and now I had a lovely eagle trophy--a huge running milestone. I still can't believe that it happened. Jamie thought that she might have placed in her age group for the 10K so we waited with her to see. Nobody should get a trophy alone, right? Sure enough, Jamie took 3rd place in her age group. We were both so proud to carry our eagles out of the park. I may, or may not, have taken mine to breakfast with me. I also might, or might not have, carried in my purse at some point this week.


Jamie and I show off our age group trophies

I was surprised at how hard that was--that race was harder than most of the half marathons that I have run. I don't race 5Ks that often because I thought of them as too short or not enough of a challenge. Consider my mind CHANGED!! I can appreciate the challenge that the shorter distances bring and I am looking forward to the next opportunity to meet those challenges.