#wethersfield ct

[hangup-machine]

Visit Original Link

its the beginnings of a song im writing

the lyrics are

lets just look at the moss. why dont we ever stop when we walk? when we walk... doooodooodooodododoo

[crystallllines]

i’m still flipping out about the scarecrow fest/parade in wethersfield jack and i went to yesterday (not a real parade/fest; a street with scarecrows in front of nearly every building)

because there was a rando “frida kahlo exhibit” that was essentially just pieces done in a frida-inspired style

except

for this painting of a plate of spaghetti

that had “spaghetti” painted under the plate and, almost over the entire right-hand side of the small canvas, mario’s face with “IT’S A ME!!” painted above him

also the scarecrows in ukrainian garb that for some INEXPLICABLE REASON were not called “boo!krainian”

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Old Wethersfield 10K, Aug 24, 2014

Old Wethersfield 10K, Aug 24, 2014

My sprint race for 2014! I rarely do short events because the half marathon is just my jam, buuuutttt this one is close, reasonable, and sometimes its fun to just run hog wild! Didnt get to do packet pickup ahead of time, so got there a little earlier than I would have otherwise, but it was ok, cause I had a crochet project to keep me amused(turquoise trimmed orange african flowers at the suggestion of a friend, it looks awesome). Easy pickup, no shirt size issues: HMF holds you to the size you ordered, and they are really consistent with their shirt sizing, so you can be confident you are getting the right size, which I love.

They called runners to line up after portapottie lines were clear(its awesome that they wait), I lined up close to the front since I had plans for all out crazy, but I made sure to line up behind all them skinny chicks in bun huggers. Dont know if they were all faster than me, but thats way more intimidating than all 5'1" of me in a skirt. So off we went!

Miles 1-3(6:39(!!!), 6:53, 7:03) This is a 2 loop course, the loop itself being about 2.5 miles, so you run the loop, run the loop again, and then work your way around Wethersfield and through Cove Park. I took off like a bat outta hell, I havent raced since May, and havent raced this short a distance since this race last year, and ive made some improvements in my running since then, so my plan was honestly to just run hard, and if I burned out, I burned out. So the first mile of the race is my fastest mile ever(really!), and it also made me realize today was the day to shoot for my goal of running a race at sub 7 min/mile pace. This is a relatively flat race with only a few turns, but there are minor elevation shifts in the road, because your glutes dont get burnt from repetitive motion. So we run from Cove Park to some baseball fields/another park, around the park, and then on a couple rural streets, leading back to Main St in Wethersfield, which is where 5K and 10K split- we loop back to this point, and then go the way the 5Kers are going right now. As I'm starting the second loop, no one yells to me this year that I'm third woman, cause this year this race is the CT state 10K USATF Championship(hence the skinny chicks in bun huggers...).

Miles 4-6.2(6:56, 7:03, 7:03, .24 @6:53 pace) We head again from Cove Park to the other fields, this time there is a short out and back before we run down the other side of the fields/park, so I get a chance to scope out who I might be able to catch, cause I like to have a goal. Im still holding a good pace, and I just keep telling myself "Just push for one more mile, then see what you want to do," and at each mile mark, I find I still have more in me. Around the park, through some the neighborhoods, and just onto Main St I catch 2 women in front of me, and I find myself very determined to leave them behind, even though I can see one of them trying to keep pace. Now we are less than a mile to go, so I dig deep, and push with everything I hate. Final road turn, then a left turn into Cove Park on the opposite side from the start line. We spend the last few tenths of the race in the park, around a bend, up the hill, and then DONE!!!

I nailed my goal! I not only got my sub 7 min/mile pace, but I also set a 40 second PR! I could not be happier with how I pushed myself with this race, its fun to do something completely out of your comfort zone.

Final stats:

43:18, 6:58/mi pace

72/615 overall, 18/345 women, 5/46 30-34F AG

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Old Wethesrfield 10K, 8/25/13

Old Wethersfield 10K, 8/25/13

This is one of the few races that I do that has packet pickup the day ahead, but at somewhere that is actually convienient. Stopped to grab my bib on saturday, since last year they gave out tech shirts on sat, and reg tshirts the day of, but, alas, regular tshirts both days. Day of the race was nice and cool, its an easy drive, and parking is also easy. Got there with plenty of time, so just hung out and crocheted a little, waiting for race start. They got everyone lined up, they kindly reminded people that unless they were doing a 5 min mile, they needed to take a few steps back, as well as reminding parents that their kids should not be in the front row. RD said a few words, and we were off!

Miles 1-3(7:03, 7:08, 7:01) Race start is pretty quick to cross the start, the 5 and 10K's both cap at 600 runners, so not too big, but not too small either. Race start was a little smoother this year, I didnt trip over any kids like I did last year. This is a nice flat 2 loop course, and they do close the roads for us. The course goes around a park area, which is kinda fun, cause it means you get to see the leaders of the race on both loops, and its always so fun to see people cruising along, making 5 and 6 min miles look like a jog in the park. Course goes along a road that parallels the highway, then back into town, around 2.6 is where the 5 and 10K split. Start the second loop, and someone in the crowd yells at me, "Nice job, you're third!" HUH???

Miles 4-6.2(7:00, 7:09, 6:51, .26@7:03) As we get to the course going around the park again, theres an extra little out and back this time. I think the woman was crazy telling me I was third- to me I felt like I was slower than last year(i had it in my head I ran a 7 min mile avg last year, but obviously thats off), but as I start watching, sure enough, there ARE only 2 women ahead, and not far ahead either! The one in the lead is intimidating- all slim and runner-looking, wearing tri-gear from her local running club. So we continue the second loop, and it takes nearly a mile before I catch the second place woman, and I say to her "what do you think? I think she's first, think we can run her down?" She didn't take the bait to come with me, so I pass her, and chase the first place woman. This proves to be great motivation for the end of the race, which goes back into town, around Cove Park, and then only crushed gravel for the last .3 miles or so. In my speedy hedgehog mind, this section is like 100 yards. Its not. I kicked early, which made continuing the kick difficult! I kept chasing the other woman, never.quite.catching.her. I came up the hill, saw the time clock, and bolted, trying for a PR. Across the finish line, and they announce me as second woman- CRAZY!! Stopped my watch at 44:01, so a few seconds PR- woohoo!

The first place woman and I congratulate each other, and I grab a bagel quickly before heading over to the results tent. Looked up my bib number, which told me a time that didnt make sense(longer than the time clock), and told me I was third woman. Decided not to worry about it, I knew I was second, and headed out. Checked later that day, and, sure enough, I was second woman, so I stopped the next day and grabbed my award- a medal with a pic of one of the historic buildings in Wethersfield, plus an onion, which has something to do with the town, but I always forget what.

Overall stats:

43:58, 23/427 overall, 2/253 women, 1/36(F30-34, a departure from the usual 10yr age brackets...)