Bolder Boulder 10K (Sea Level is for Sissies)

I had a busy weekend, but now that I have some time to sit and blog about it, I have a massive headache that just won't go away. The weekend was complete with amazing cupcakes from Gigi's...

...the wonderful and outstanding Billy Elliot the Musical...

... a relaxing trip into the mountains to the Indian Springs hot baths...

... and, of course, the Bolder Boulder 10K!

One of the first qualifying waves

 In my last entry, I lamented "that time of month" coming up soon. As luck would have it, an hour before my wave left, it started. I ducked into the Walgreens to buy the necessities, including a travel-size vial of painkillers. I downed about 1500 mg and hoped it would be enough.

It was. I was completely astonished. Sometime before I reached the halfway point, I forgot all about the abdominal cramps that always accompanies my period and destroys all hope and chance I have of doing anything more than curling up in a fetal position... and I just ran. It was amazing! I barely took any water breaks, but that was more for the congestion than anything else--not that I really needed the water, either. I took an obligatory one at the mile 4 marker just because I figured I ought to.

The finish line at the stadium of my alma mater; and there are still more than twenty waves left to go!

For the sake of my pacing, since there were kilometer markings, I paid attention to my kilometer splits. Also, the Bolder Boulder's timing chips tracks all the mile splits. Here is my official time and splits:

• Mile 1: 09:17
• Mile 2: 10:04
• Mile 3: 10:25
• Mile 4: 10:41
• Mile 5: 10:12
• Mile 6: 10:18
• Net Time: 01:03:03

It's not a PR, but considering that I haven't done much speed training at all, the fact that this is the first time I've run more than a mile on the first day of my period, and I wasn't in a qualifying wave, I think this is pretty darn good!

Ridiculously pleased with myself

I will say this though--I will never, ever run in a non-qualifying wave again. I expected to do a lot of weaving in an out of people, and I expected the congestion on the race course, but I did NOT expect and I did NOT like the crowds afterward! I barely spent any time at the Expo, I spent more time in the line for a free massage than I did for anything else, and I didn't get a bottle of water at the end of the race because the volunteers had to keep ushering us along. At least I got the free snack bag in my new lunch sack. But I think a lot of my negativity came from PMS more than anything else; I was pretty cranky despite feeling good about the race.

(A non-qualifying wave is great for people who don't take the race too seriously. Which I was trying not to do, especially given my circumstances, but what can I say: I'm a serious racer.)

I cheered up considerably once I got the free massage and met up with Laura and her boyfriend and father for the International Team Challenge! Man, those Kenyans and Ethiopians... they make running that fast look easy!

 

But Team USA gave them a run for their money, and we came in third place for the men's and second place for the women's!

The Memorial Day tribute was also really nice. It started with a speech, a flyover, a showcase of all the branches of the armed forces flags and anthems in the form of professional parachutists, and finally, honoring select World War II veterans from the Colorado area.

 

Overall, another great race, and I cannot wait to do it again next year! I met all my best-case scenario goals, and I have learned that yes, I can, in fact, run on the first day of my period! All it takes is massive amounts of painkillers.

Michelle's Mango Salsa

Last night, my kitchen was in a horrid state.

One of my main complaints about my apartment is the limited counter space and cabinet space I have, but when I tried to make Michelle's delicious mango salsa last night, I had no room to do it on, and it wasn't by fault of the design of the kitchen. It was my own laziness, and so I decided to do something about it. Thirty minutes later, my kitchen looked like this:

This is a kitchen I can work in!

After that, I went straight to work on the mango salsa recipe Michelle made for Julia's bridal shower. It's a very simple recipe! All you need is two diced mangoes, a quarter of an onion (diced), 4 tbsp lime juice, 4 tbsp cilantro, and 1 tsp salt. Stir it up, let it sit for half an hour or longer, and voila!

I took it to work today and shared with my cubemates, and it was a huge hit! I was hoping to save some to share with my parents this weekend, but I have four more mangoes sitting in my fridge. I think I'll be making more tomorrow!

Three more days until the Bolder Boulder, and my attempt to pick up my speed went well this morning. The same route I always run I managed to run three minutes faster than normal. The run made me think... what if I could PR on Monday?

The Bolder Boulder has kilometer markings, which would make keeping track of my pace a lot easier than with mile markers alone. To PR, all I would have to do is run each kilometer in 6 minutes, and I believe that this is something I can do. Will I be disappointed if I didn't manage to PR? Admittedly, a little. The only thing that would prevent this is that I'm not in one of the first few qualifying waves this year, which means a lot of weaving around people. Other than that... what's really stopping me?

So, with three days to go, it's time to nail down what I want to accomplish for the 10K.

Goals / Plans of Actions

• Run each kilometer between 5 minutes and 7 minutes. This way, if I PR, I PR; if I don't, I don't, but I'll at least have a time I can smile about all the same.
• Take water only around the 4 mile marker! At the half marathon, I proved that I didn't need water every two miles. For a 10K I should not need more than one break. If I don't take this break, then so be it.
• Have fun! That was the entire point of signing up for this race; while I won't be running with Michelle or Laura (they're in different waves), I am running for them and with them. Plus, there will be a lot of cool and fun things along the route!

 I cannot wait for this race! I really do love the 10K distance.

UPDATE - (Warning: TMI, Women Only)

I briefly looked at my calendar and realized--my period is supposed to start sometime this weekend! That would explain why my weight has stagnated, but this also presented another huge problem in lieu of the upcoming race: I cannot run while on my period. I cramp, I get nauseated, and I'm hard pressed to run more than a mile. If I try to do more than that, I'm usually curled up in the fetal position on the side of the trail for a good fifteen minutes before I do a slow walk back home.

Race day is the one month mark from when I had my last period. Now, I'm hoping my period starts within the next 24 hours so the pain and cramping and nausea goes away before the race, but I can only be so lucky. The best thing I can do at this point is have some adjusted goals from the above. If my period starts either Sunday or Monday, this is what I will strive to do:

• Push through to the end! I'll run as much as I can, at the very least trying to pursue a run 2K/walk 1K approach. (I mean, hey. If I can march drum corps during my period, I can certainly run a 10K! And besides, there's no guarantee that I won't be menstruating during the marathon in October!)
• Take water at every aid station! This is critical! Hydration is the most important during periods of pain and suffering and heavy blood loss.
• Have fun! This goal does not change for a second.

At least this time, my PMS didn't come with the emotional trauma. It only came with a weight stagnation and the foreboding possibility of one of my worst racing nightmares. Either way, I'll make the Bolder Boulder a fun and educational experience!

Pre-Colfax Marathon Events

While Blogspot has been down, I've been busy! A trip to Whole Foods, a baking success, a bridal shower, picking up my packet for the half marathon tomorrow, and signing up for the Bolder Boulder at the end of the month!

My trip to Whole Foods definitely convinced me to stop buying my produce from big chain grocery stores and start buying them from places that sells the fruits and vegetables locally. Example: take a look at the size of this strawberry!

Plus, these strawberries were juicier and sweeter and just better than anything I've ever bought from King Sooper's. Yes, please!

I also bought Sunny new cat food. Now, for the Whiskas wet food, he would barely eat half of what I served him, but as soon as I served him the Wellness brand of canned food? Om nom nom.

He's less keen on the Wellness dry food, but I bought him the formula for overweight cats. Maybe he'll warm up to it, but I think he prefers the junk of Whiskas meaty selections. I think next time I buy him dry food, I'll try to find the Wellness Core and see if he likes that any better.

Satisfied kitty is satisfied

Now, for Julia's bridal shower, I decided to try my hand at this recipe for rhubarb strawberry apple crumble, using fruit from Whole Foods. It turned out great!

It was also my first experience with baking with rhubarb. I've had it before in strawberry rhubarb pie from Village Inn, but I'd never even seen the plant before. People weren't kidding when they said it looks like red celery!

The bridal shower itself was amazing amounts of fun. There were a lot of good food, fun activities, and most importantly, great company and a beautiful bride-to-be.

Michelle's mango salsa was amazing, and I can't wait to try the recipe out for myself!

There, I was convinced to sign up for the Bolder Boulder 10K, since Laura and Michelle are also running it. I also had a great conversation with Laura, who had run the Paris Marathon a month ago, about fitness-related topics. Plus, I announced to my friends my plans to go pescetarian, and I asked for help and advice from Prasanthi, a lifelong vegetarian, who gave me a lot of great pointers!

The best friends a girl can have

Packet pickup for the Colfax Marathon was also today. Quick and painless process! I signed up for the corral to finish the half marathon in under 2:40:00, so hopefully that means I'll be able to stay on target. My congestion has migrated to the back of my throat, which I suspect will be massively annoying during the (rainy) run tomorrow.

Tonight is Laura's birthday dinner, where we will be going out for sushi. I'm disappointed I can't stay for the salsa dancing part of the night, but guntime is 6am tomorrow. Have to get to bed early!