Plumbers and Pipefitters 5K

Last Saturday several people were talking about a 5K on Monday night.  I was kind of surprised because most of them are serious, competitive runners and don't usually do the funsy type races.  The race is the Plumbers and Pipefitters 5K.  It's put on by the Plumbers and Pipefitters union and raises money for wounded soldiers.  The Plumbers have to have education every year for their licenses and this past week was a big annual week-long plumbers convention type thingy. 
Sunday evening, my long time running group friend, Larry, texted asking if I was going to go.  He was going and said that I should go.  I looked up the details and ended up registering because, surprisingly, online registration was still open.  It rained all day Monday and I found myself wondering why I was so quick to register for this thing.  It rained all the way as I drove to downtown Ann Arbor before the race.  It stopped raining as I was pulling into the parking lot where I parked.  I walked a few blocks to where I picked up my number and shirt.  Bonus - a neon yellow shirt which I will wear for biking!  It started sprinkling while I was in the race area.  I walked back to my car with the shirt and to wait to hear from Larry.  I suddenly had my doubts that he would show up.  I was sitting in my car and it began raining again.  Lovely.  Larry called saying he was on his way and asked where I was parked so I told him and he arrived a few minutes later.  We walked in the rain to the race area.  He still had to register.  It did stop raining before the race started and didn't rain during the race.
I had a pretty good race!  I even won my age group!  When running a race put on by plumbers what would you expect as an award but a plumbing wrench!  Yep, age group awards were plumbing wrenches!

This is a real wrench! 

I came in at 26:40 for an 8:36 pace so this is counting as my tempo run for this week! 
Doug Kurtis, Detroit running celebrity who I talked about in my last post, was also at this race.  I was walking with Larry when they saw each other and talked for a few minutes before the race.  During the race, he was near the finish line with a portable PA system calling out to the runners.  It was a two loop course so we had to pass by the finish line on the first loop.  He said my name as I was coming up the street; I can't believe he remembered it!  He also put out his hand for a high five.  I found a picture in the race photos of me as I was putting my hand up to high five him!  I am pretty sure that both my feet are off of the ground in this picture!  I've always wanted a picture of me running where both feet are off the ground! 

High-fiving Doug Kurtis!  Both feet off the ground! 

When Larry was talking to Doug Kurtis I told him that I discovered his two page story in the July Runner's World magazine after the Red Carpet Run and said that I hope to get him to autograph my magazine article someday and he said he would love to!  He actually told Larry to bring it to the next meeting of the race that they are both on the staff of!  This could possibly be my first celebrity runner autograph! 

After the race it got chilly and I ended up driving home with the heat on in the car.  Yes, heat on August 11th.
After it was all said and done, I'm glad that I ran this race! I can't wait to find something to use my wrench on!

Runner Nerd
runs to win cool prizes

My First Grandmasters Win

In all the craziness of the dog getting sick, being in the veterinary hospital, and then dying, I forgot all about something.  I heard from the director of the April Fool's Day Twinkie Run a few days after the race that there had been some mix up in timing that night and that I was the Grandmaster winner!  I got age group winner that night.  I got the message about the mix up a couple of days after the dog died and I was still pretty upset over that and still coming to terms with everything. 
I checked the updated results and I beat the woman who was given the Grandmasters win that night by four minutes!! 
I'm glad that the results are updated showing me as the Grandmasters winner.  I hope I am able to win Grandmasters again someday and actually have my name announced as such and get the award designated  for the winner. 

Runner Nerd
Grandmaster winner

First race of 2011, first age group win

I ran my first race of the year and won my first age group award of the year!!  It was a small race.  It was an 8 miler night cross country race.  It was a fundraiser for a high school cross country and track program.  Four of the Thursday night running group members ran in this race. 

At the start line ready to go!

We all placed in our age groups!!

It was 15 degrees.  I fell during the race too.  I'm not sure why, but I think my foot stepped off the edge of pavement.  The race was on the school grounds.  I'm not sure what we were running on; it was some kind of driveway and was paved.  I think my foot stepped off the edge and I fell and got covered in snow which made my clothes wet and from that point on I was freezing.  It was around 5 miles into the run that this happened.  Much of the race was on grass and trails through woods.  That was hard to run on.  After the race I went into the school and changed out of my running clothes.  I am so glad that I took clothes; I almost didn't.  I was sitting at the school cafeteria table waiting around for the results with the others and saying that I wanted to just go since I didn't think I would place.  They said to stay there so I did.  I was shocked when I heard my name called first for the 45-49 age group!!  The medal is shaped like a star with runners in the middle!! 

Getting my medal. (wearing coat because I was still freezing)

Thursday night groupies showing off medals!



Right after race thawing out



Happy about my medal

So, that was exciting!!  Now that I am home I am beginning to feel all the places that hit the ground when I fell.  My left hip seems to hurt the most.  I have a burise on the side of my leg just below my knee. 
I've had enough winter now; it can go away now. 

Runner Nerd
age group winner

Run into the New Year 5K

I won my age group!!!!!!  
I ran the Run into the New Year 5K. It was cold and icy in places.  I wasn't dressed warm enough.  I dressed in my running clothes before going to dinner at my friend's house.  It had been in the mid 30s all day.  When we arrived at the race and got out of the car I could tell that the temperature had dropped.  The parking lot was slippery but the street seemed ok.  I was a bit chilly during most of the race.  There were icy spots here and there.  As the race went on it became apparent that we should  not have had the yummy chocolate desserts before the race.  We should have went back to her house and had the desserts AFTER the race!!  I got the bowling ball in tummy feeling and cramps first on left side then they moved over to the right side. 
I must get  back into shape. 
So, here we are in the year 2010.  I sent a text msg to a friend who lives on the west coast after my race to brag about winning my age group and also to wish a happy new year.  It dawned on me that it won't be the new year out there for another 2.5 hours.  That is very weird-my friend and I are living in different years!  (same for my sister and I since she also lives out there) 
I finish out 2009 with 1022 miles ran!  I will try to put together a running year recap soon.  I am not sure how many races I ran.  I actually had 1 PR this year too!! I hope 2010 is a better running year for me than 2009 was. 
Tomorrow I will be running again at noon, 10 miles is planned.  I can't think of a better way to end a year and then begin a new one than by RUNNING!!!!
Happy New Year

Runner Nerd
honor student and running fanatic