Damn right
It was a very tough race. Having a 13.1 mile race 8 days before a ten mile race is not easy. Also, Central Park is very hilly and K and I remember that we haven’t done much hill work.
Mile 1: 11:50–too fast. K and I chat and decide that we need to warm up, do more hill work, re-watch season 1 of Lost.
Mile 2: 11:25!! Too too fast. K tells me about the discussion with her BF about when they should live together, We stop at the water table drank, start again, comment on how hilly it is and how it JUST ISN’T GETTING EASIER.
Miles 3, 4, 5, 6. We complain, don’t feel so well. Each of these miles is between 11:55 and 12:05. We loiter at water stations hoping for miracles. K tells me a story about teeny transgender kids she heard on NPR.
Mile 7: I am beginning to believe that the race will end someday. At some point I get a second wind and speed up a bit, K points this out. I tell her that I don’t want to waste my tiny second wind. We do that mile in an 11:40 pace.
Mile 8: This mile features Harlem hill. It is a little steep. An onlooker exhorts us to STAYONTHEINSIDE! HELP EACH OTHER UPTHEHILL! A 50-something runner behind me yells, “WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT! DOES SHE THINK I’M 12!” I believe that I do this mile in 12:10 due to a couple of brief walk breaks.
Mile 9: Tired tired. Can’t remember the time. It’s not going quickly.
Mile 10. At some point a volunteer reminds us that it is mostly down hill from here. K is a little bit ahead of me. I pick up the pace and enjoy the downhills. I use my favorite trick for running and for life…I count. While I am counting backwards from 100, and mouthing each number distinctly, a runner with a marathon shirt runs towards me. He points at me, “YOU…are doing great!” The best encouragement ever! I keep going and finish the mile in about 11:00. That brings me to an 11:47/mile overall. Not my best ever for a 10 miler, but very good for how tough the run was.
***
Last night I went to get the newspaper and some bum was trying to talk to me. I ignored him. He muttered something that sounded like “biscuit,” but then yelled at me, “That means YOU A MEAN BITCH!” I don’t engage in conversation with the loons, but I was pretty pleased to be a Mean Bitch. Damn right!
May 11, 2008 at 4:25 pm
CONGRATS TO YOU! I am in awe of your running. And re the bum: I always love the ones who catcall you with ’sweetie-baby-honey’, then switch over to ‘bitch’ when you don’t respond in a desirous manner. But hey, bitch works for me. I consider it more of an observation than an insult.
May 11, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Thanks! Yeah, about the bum–I walked home saying, “I’m a MEAN BITCH”–and then I’d give a little laugh. Not that I’m crazy–just expressive.
May 11, 2008 at 6:48 pm
A MEAN bitch, definitely outranks a mere bitch. Congrats on finishing the race.
May 11, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Yay for you! And I heard that NPR story too. It was really interesting. I had to miss the end, though.
May 12, 2008 at 5:39 am
Congratz on the race! I am not sure if I could do a 10 mile race a week after a 1/2 marathon. My legs would send me packing.
Your comment about looking for a miracle at the water station made me chuckle, I look for the same thing, but haven’t had any luck yet. I am not giving up hope though!
Re the bum: That’s MRS Mean Bitch to you, Mr!
May 12, 2008 at 8:50 am
I think there is no greater compliment than to be called a mean bitch by a bum. Truly.