Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Two Foot long Hotdogs+French Fries=5K Run

Temperature: 68 degrees; splits 8:23; 8:29; 8:19; 25:52 total for 3.1 miles; 8:21 per mile pace.

I absolutely, positively wasn't going to run today. I felt I deserved a rest after my 90 degree run yesterday. My lawn needed to be mowed even though I mowed it just 4 days ago. I didn't even fertilize it like I normally do, yet it's growing like it's using performance enhancing drugs. So bear with me as I explain why I ran. My son Robert has a weekly radio show on Wednesdays from 10-12 noon on WSIN radio (http://radio.southernct.edu/dev/listen_online/index.html)
which is at Southern Connecticut State University. One of the students in the classroom I work in loves to play guitar. So I drove him and some of his classmates to the radio station so that he could play his guitar on my son's show. Afterward we decided to go to Glenwood Drive-In (http://www.glenwooddrivein.com/)for some good old fashioned food. Well, 2 foot long hot dogs, an order of fries, and a few onion rings later the damage was done. Of course I was sure to order a diet soda with all of that, like it really mattered. So when I arrived home, with 4 1/2 hours of daylight left, I had no choice but to run before I mowed "steroid lawn." I chose my favorite 5K road run, which begins and ends at my mailbox. With a 68 degree day, and a perfect breeze, off I went. I surprised myself at how strong I felt at the start. Normally when I run by myself, the start is my weak point, as my real or imagined aches and pains begin. It wasn't like that at all today. I felt good, even as I continued up the first 1/2 mile uphill part of my run. Long story short, I felt fantastic the entire run. It was like pre-injury running again, only slower. But I'm OK with slower. I'm feeling so good again about running that I just entered a new 5K race that takes place this Sunday. I need to finish in the top 300 so I can get a commemorative shot glass! At the very least, I get a cool shirt. Copy and paste the link, and tell me what you think. http://www.hartfordmarathon.com/foundationnew/hmfevents/baja5000.htm

8 comments:

Rookie on the Run said...

Hooray for a great run!

I've never heard of a foot-long hot dog. It sounds like it was just what you needed. Due to a headache that refused to leave, I had a hamburger & french fries from Burger King today. Some headaches only respond to greasy, fatty food. Guess what? My headache is gone!

I looked up that 5K. Looks like a FUN one! Baja in the North East... who would've thunk it?! Margaritas (sans tequila), fish tacos... sounds like home. :D

That's really cool, btw, that you brought your students to the station! I bet the guitar player students LOVED it!

Melanie Tait said...

Rick that's awesome. I know when I have food like that I find it hard to move, let alone go for a run - that's awesome!

And how lovely to take some of your students to the radio station - radio stations are such magical places (especially when you're at school and yet to work in one every day!).

Mmmmmmm your blogpost has made me hungers for a hotdog... and fries... shame you didn't top it off with a choc-malt shake. I'd be running out to the milk bar!

Lindsay said...

lol about the diet soda. i'm sure it balanced out the fries/onion rings! ;)

68* sounds like a treat after 90, good thing you took advantage of it. how fast were you if you are thinking 8:21 is slow? i just recently (past month-ish) got my regular/easy training runs under 9:00 mile avgs. PLUS 8:21s on a belly full of grease is a feat in itself!

Anais said...

You definitely need to come in within the first 300!!! Gotta love useless baubles that accumulate (I sure do!).

So glad your run went well! I'm hoping mine will too today, because I just got some great new music!!

Irish Cream said...

Those are some seriously AMAZING splits! It must have been the pre-run meal ;) I might have to try that one out before my next run!

Mel-2nd Chances said...

I'm ok with slower, if only i could stay injury free (hoping it's phantom pains while in taper madness though...) LOL at the steroid grass, and diet coke makes a difference, doesn't it? :D

RunnerMom said...

I love runs like that. Good luck placing in the top 300 for your commemorative shot glass!

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope my next marathon is a little easier than this one, but it was an adventure and I know I'll never forget my first!

Lisa said...

Hi there, thanks for the encouraging comment on my blog. Patience is not one of my virtues but I will try to be good because I don't want to cause any more damage and I want to run a half, hopefully this year. I'm adding you to my blog roll and following you :) Good luck in your race this weekend.