Runnin' Outta Our Mine 5k ... Again

I've run this race every year since it started. I'm a little bit over the whole underground running thing but I knew Paul would get a kick out of it so I had signed us up for our first race of the year. The day before the race my babysitter fell through so we ended up bringing Gem with us and she decided to run too.

Race morning was pretty laid back as the race doesn't start until 11am. We arrived at 10 and got Gem registered and our bibs pinned on. Then we hit the bathrooms and walked around and saw a few friends. Mostly we just sat on a curb and waited.

 Paul and I as INKnBURN pirates 

 Gem and I before the race

A few minutes before 11 we went outside and gathered around a fire barrel to stay warm while we waited for the start. When the race started (I never heard a gun or horn or anything!) I grabbed all of our coats and threw them in the snow off to the side. We all ran up a hill for a quarter mile or so and then into the entrance of the mine. It was such a relief to get into the 55* interior after the 18* run up the hill. 

Gem did really well the first mile. We passed the clock at about 11 minutes with only one or two quick walk breaks. The second mile she started to get a little tired and we took a few more walk breaks. Right before the two mile clock we finally reached the water table which pacified Gem for just a little longer. The second mile clocked in right around 12:30.

Running through a mine

The third mile was Gem's undoing. She walked a lot more and even began to cry. I was a little tough on her because I knew she was going to act up. Every 5k she's ever done she has thrown a fit and wanted to quit in the third mile but I can never talk her out of doing them in the first place. I'm pretty sure a lot of the other parents probably thought I was a jerk but I know Gem can finish a 5k and I wasn't pushing her too hard.

Rubble

We finally turned a bend and were back on concrete floors. We could feel the fresh breeze from the mine exit and Gem perked up. Her pace picked up and we managed to make it to the last bend with only one more walk break. Then the finish line came into view and she started to sprint hard. I guess she couldn't wait to be done!

Area of the mine used for boat storage

As soon as we crossed the line in 38:07 (a new PR for Gem!) she threw up. I was a little horrified but kind of proud that she has the drive to push to the finish. She was upset about throwing up at first but as soon as she was handed a water and a cookie she cheered up. Then she got a few congratulations from bystanders on pushing so hard (and a few finish line puke stories) and she began to brag to everyone that talked to her about it!

Overall, this race is poorly organized and I'm not that thrilled with moving the start/finish outdoors in February. But I'm glad I've been able to share it with Gem and Paul now. Hopefully next time we sign up for one it can be puke free!

Rollin' In The Deep

This was the third time Shane and I decided to race the Runnin' Outta Our Mine 5k in Wampum, PA. There were some changes this year such as the course and scheduling. Usually the race is held in February because the mine is a constant 55* F and makes for a great winter run sans long sleeves and tights. It also used to begin inside the mine with only about 100 feet outside to the finish line. It also had somewhere around 45 sharp turns. This year it was held in August, started and ended outside the mine, and the number of switchbacks inside the mine were reduced. Also shirts were $10 extra on top of the $25 entry fee so we opted out.

Our niece, Gabby, is visiting from North Carolina so we dragged her along with us. We arrived at packet pickup around 8:30 and stood around chatting with our friends for quite some time. I got some congratulations on my Burning River finish which was both embarrassing and amusing. Mostly because most of the people around me either appeared in much better shape or completely befuddled as to what Burning River might actually be and why it mattered.

Before the race with LAPS members Darlene and Donna

 

The race began a little late around 9:05. It started with a fairly steep uphill that lasted a good bit. I didn't bother with GPS since we would be underground for the majority of the run.We ran into an open mine entrance and I was suddenly blind from leaving the bright August light. I am sure I slowed a bit until my eyes adjusted somewhat but I never felt like I could really see. I had no GPS to guide my pace and no idea what to expect one week post-100 miler so I went purely by effort. I'm guessing my endocrine system isn't fully recovered because I felt aerobically taxed long before my legs even said a peep.

 

I hit the first clock marking the end of the first mile around 8:10. A little slower than normal but not bad for an uphill start and running over gravel.

 

map of the course

 

The second mile I just tried to hold the same effort with a slight increase to adjust for fatigue. My breathing became a little more labored but I was still okay and passing people intermittantly. Every few hundred feet we would make another sharp bend and I would see the people either ahead of or behind me on the other side of a row of rock columns. Sometimes I would see Shane and sometimes I thought I saw Gabby but mostly I was focused on not tripping over a rock or pothole in the dark.

 

I passed the clock for the second mile around 16:20. Still holding strong!

 

The last mile I began purposely trying to push with whatever I had left. I passed more runners and a few passed me. As we approached the end I could feel the warmer air and the gravel floor turned to concrete and pavement. I tried to fend off the women that were overtaking me but I couldn't hold on. Most likely I'm not as recovered as I would like to be and I pushed too soon because I really wanted a chance at an age group award this year.

 

I cleared the entrance to the mine and crossed the timing mat at 25:11. Nowhere near a PR but I will take it!

 

After the race with more LAPS members

 

Shane finished in 21:54 for 33rd overall and 9th in his age group. Gabby finished in 35:32 and 10th in her age group. I finished in 25:11 for 87/294 and 5/25 in my age group so none of us were able to take home our chunk of mine rock this year. Overall it was still a good day and any chance to get Gabby through another 5k is a good one. Now we just have to try to find another one for Gabby before she leaves for home!

Gabby finishing the race

 

 

Mad Dash

Yesterday my husband decided to wake me up at oh-my-god early and drive two hours to run a 5k. We did a 5k in the same park over the summer and placed rather well so my husband was hopeful he could break into the top three.

We arrived early and registered. We were excited to get shirts because it seems like we never get them with race day registration anymore. We hid in the car to stay warm. Shane had checked the weather... for home, not Shenango. *sigh* It was freezing and snowing. As we were waiting all the fast people started showing up for last minute registration. To top it off, Mr. Annoying from the Cold Man 5k showed up. I've never wanted to chick someone so much in my life!

I did a warm up run with some strides and realized we weren't running the same course as the last race. I asked the race director quickly what the course was and he confirmed my fears. We were running a route with more hills and generally uphill. It consisted of a small loop which was less than a mile and then a large loop to make up the remainder. I was really starting to wish I'd stayed in bed.

We lined up and moved about 3 rows back to allow all the guys I knew were faster than me to start first. I lined up next to one of the women I know can whoop me usually. She was saying she was suffering from stress reactions in her shins so she hadn't been running much. I was hoping I could pace off her to a PR or at least a good placement. But the gun went off and she was gone along with the woman who had lined up on the other side of me.

I held my goal pace perfectly for the first mile (7:58). Then we started up a gradual winding incline and I felt like I couldn't pull myself together. My core felt hot but my legs were cold. My throat was okay but my lungs were burning. My leg turnover felt slow and my strides felt clumsy. Nothing felt right at all.

By mile 2 a few more women had passed me. I tried to hold on to Mr. Annoying but he was slowly pulling away. By the time we reached the third mile I knew a PR was out of reach and that even staying in the 25's would be hard. Right then we approached the biggest hill of the course. I didn't give up, didn't walk, but I wanted to! My Garmin was beeping at me to speed up but I couldn't. I finally reached the top of the monster and headed down the other side to the finish. I crossed at 26:20 and gave the race director my bib tag before I went over to the grass and threw a mini tantrum, complete with throwing my hat.




I have no idea what happened and I'm hoping it was just a bad day. My husband didn't do as well as he'd hoped either, finishing in 22:19. We both got first in our age group but I realized when I looked at the results that there were only me and another woman in my age group (even though it was a ten year age group)!

Overall, I'm okay with the time. If you'd asked me a year ago I would have said a 26:20 5k was impossible for me. Now that I know I can do better than that I want to see just how good I can do. Hopefully the next one, in a MINE, will go better. Shane and I ran it last year and had a blast! Even though we don't have a shot at an age group award with the caliber of the field there the even itself is just too neat to pass up!