| Author |
Topic: Better Late than Never - Portland RR |
Solarrunner
Cool Runner |
 posted Oct-11-2007 03:47 PM
  
Hello Boomers!I've decided to write a race report even though I feel that I let down my fellow boomers by remaining "invisible" at the Portland Marathon. No drinks, no dinner, no coffee, even ran right past the boomer aid station. Mea Culpa. I have tons of excuses of course... DH, DS and I arrived in Portland around 11pm Friday evening. DS had to be at his test-taking site at 7am. DH had been covering a vacationing partner at work for three weeks. I had a bad cold. We all needed the sleep. No drinks with fellow boomers. Saturday morning - drove DS to local high school to take test. No time for coffee with boomers. Saturday evening - DH, DS and I ate at a fancy restaurant. That was DH's reward for attending test/running weekend fun. As for the race - wow!! I loved it!! This was the first marathon that I ran mainly alone (DS ran me in the last 6). I loved the little loop through the city - made it easy for the spectators to find their loved ones. Found mine waving their arms at me. The out and back section was great too. I loved the music and really enjoyed seeing all the other runners. I was wearing my Marathon Maniacs singlet and every maniac waved or nodded - that was nice and made me feel like I wasn't running alone. I saw lots of people I knew from my running group too. After the out and back it's a run to the huge suspension bridge. Quite a nice little climb up to it but the view from top was worth it. I don't mind hills when there's a reward like that waiting! Once the bridge was crossed 18 miles were already under the belt. Now it was just a straight run back to the city. Musical groups and crowds made the run pleasant. Started wondering at mile 19 if DH and DS would be at mile 20 as I hoped. They weren't sure if they would be able to make it with the traffic and all. Saw waving arms in the distance and knew they had made it!! That really lifted my spirits right when the quads started talking to me. DS was in his running clothes and ready to go. DS knew that my voice was nearly gone from the cold and that he would have to do all the talking. He was wonderful!! Kept up some nice, lively chatter so I could just run and listen (that is how we breezed by the boomer aid station without stopping - sorry!). I even ran past the beer at 24m but DS ran back and got me a cup. My goal is to never pass up the beer at a marathon!! My legs were starting to complain but we managed to keep up a decent enough pace to the very end. I ended up PR'ing on this run. I had hoped to do that but wasn't sure it would be possible after I got that nasty cold!! I'm still coughing and my quads are still talking to me - although it's a whisper now! Here's hoping I meet some of you Boomers at the Seattle Marathon!! Cat.
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evanflein
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-11-2007 04:22 PM
Nice run even with a recent cold! What was your time? How fun to have a race with music along the way, I've never had that treat. Isn't it fun to make a whole weekend out of it with your DH (and DS in your case)? Sounds like you had a great time and a great race! Hope you can recover from all of it (got your voice back?) and carry on at Seattle. If I can work out the travel, I might see you there!------------------
evanflein
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tselbs
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-11-2007 04:29 PM
Even though you missed the boomers, you had a good weekend with your family. It's great your son ran the last 6 with you and that you got a PR. Congratulations.TomS ------------------
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glidegal
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-11-2007 04:45 PM
Even though you were in stealth mode, I'm sure we saw you since we yelled at every marathon maniac who ran by the duck shack. there were SO many of you. hope we can catch up with you next year and Im glad you had a great time. glidegal
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Ileneforward
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-11-2007 06:04 PM
Getting a PR while recovering from a cold? Very impressive!  Congratulations, you make it sound like so much fun too.
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Fortunate One
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-11-2007 08:51 PM
WTG, Cat! PR's don't grow on bushes. You earned it, so now enjoy it. Plenty of time for Boomer meetings in the future.------------------
Fortunate--a volleyballer with a running problem
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JJJessee
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-11-2007 09:50 PM
Good job Solar. Its got to be tough running with a bad cold. But posting a PR time on a fun course is good medicine.
Hope you're feeling better and those quads have quite barking.
Thanks for the report.
jjj
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Labduck
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-11-2007 10:10 PM
I'm not sure what the best part of this report is. You set a new PR, you participated in the traditional beer aid station, or the fact they let your DS have beer! Hee hee...Okay Solar, that was your one free pass. Next time you must join us sometime during the weekend. We really are mostly harmless! And gi-gi is right, we quacked at every Maniac we saw, so there was a good chance we cheered you on too!
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Econo
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-11-2007 10:46 PM
Yeah, what they said! Stealth mode only works once. Ya gotta say hello & party a little next time. Maybe see you in Seattle!
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Soundrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-11-2007 11:13 PM
Solar, great to hear you still had such a good and PR run despite a bad cold! I know Tetsujin will have none of the stealth mode for the Seattle Marathon. He has certain power that way. See you in a few weeks!
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smpankowski
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-12-2007 04:59 AM
That's just awesome Solarrunner. I love your family and your RR. ------------------
Have Fartlek - Will Travel, SteveP My User Profile
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hollys4874
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-12-2007 09:09 AM
Cat - marathon with a bad cold and you still got a PR? Great job! How cool for DS to run the last 6 in with you. Btw - what sort of test was DS taking?------------------
Holly
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Solarrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-12-2007 09:41 AM
OK, answers to questions asked.....My time was 4:25 and change (OK, a lot of change, but if Boston can leave it so can I!) DS was taking SAT subject tests. My voice is mostly back but I'm still coughing. It may have turned into bronchitis at this point. Yeah, they gave my DS the beer (a 2-oz cup - not full) - he was concerned enough to tell them it was for his mother - and yes, I would have gone back myself to get it if they would have denied him. And no, I still have no pictures to post (not that anyone asked, but just in case...). I'm just about ready to pay anyone who can get a good-looking, non-blurry photo of me in a race. At the Tacoma Bridge Race I didn't get any photos taken (nor did my chip time come out), every other race I've run the photos are blurry (which I of course blame on my dazzling speed), or I look like a wet dog (OK, perhaps not the photogs fault). These include photos taken by family members and running club members. So for now at least, I shall remain in stealth mode. :-) Gotta' Run!
Cat.
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mariposai
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-12-2007 10:19 AM
I enjoyed reading your RR Cat since I ran my first marathon in Portland last year as well. I too stayed away from the Boomer's gathering then just because I was too busy with family and friends.So......YOU are coming to Seattle next month!!!! COOL...please don't even think you are going to stay away from us. We Washingtonians are one rowdy group and you will have the time of your life. I promise you.
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Tetsujin30
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-12-2007 11:20 AM
solarina,Now that you've got a very, very good PR and the running part and proved you're an ace on the hills and ready for the Seattle Solarathon (please, please bring your sunshine of you and maybe even the sky), it's time to start enjoying the real benefits of boomer running, e.g. such as our formula for getting super gorgeous photos. See you in the SM hot tub!
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Canfit
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-12-2007 03:10 PM
Great PR run under those conditions, Solarrunner! Congratulations! Thank goodness I caught my cold after my marathon. Couldn't imagine running a marathon with one. Continued good luck with your running!
PJ
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hollys4874
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-12-2007 03:19 PM
Cat - okay, I have an idea. My DH has a really nice camera - great for action shots. So, come to Dayton and run a race and I'll take a bunch of pictures. My motto is, take 40 pictures to get 3 good ones. Or, you could just put on a race shirt and bib, and run up and down the street, and I'll take a bunch of pics and you could find a good one and say this is what you'd LIKE your race pics to look like. ------------------
Holly
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Dove61
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-12-2007 04:54 PM
Nice RR Cat. It sounds like your weekend was a hectic one, which always makes it hard to focus on the race. It's really neat that your DS was ready to run with you when you needed it the most. I bet he's really proud of his mom.Rest up and be ready to have a fantastic Boomer meet-up in Seattle. We've met so you know I'm as normal as a Maniac can be and I promise to protect you from all those crazy Boomers. -Dove ------------------
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Sans Souci
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-12-2007 06:49 PM
"Normal," Dove? You sure? (That's a compliment!)Cat, yep, those are valid excuses. Just sorry we missed meeting you. Congratulations on the PR! I'm pondering Seattle Half myself, so hopefully we'll have another chance soon. Hope that cough is easing. Take care of yourself.
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John2635
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-13-2007 08:34 PM
congrats solarrunner on your PR, but I'll have to second or third the sentiment. Stop by and see us next time, we are mostly harmless (except for that cross dressing dude with the beard)Hope you're feeling better John
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