Indian Creek Trail

I ran my ten miles on Saturday on a new-to-me trail in Overland Park--Indian Creek Trail. I parked at Roe Park and ran west and south through Indian Creek Recreation Center through Corporate Woods and toward Quivira Park. The path generally curves along and over Indian Creek and was mostly asphalt, with some concrete sections along bridges. Parts of the trail were industrial, along roads and strip malls, and parts of the trail were more natural, with trees and the gurgling creek. The section along I-435 was awful--boring to run along, loud with noise from traffic and cars, decorated with some graffiti containing four-letter words, and the tunnel under the Interstate was musty and dark. If I run along Indian Creek Trail again, I'll avoid the Interstate by parking at Indian Creek Recreation Center and running east, or by parking in Corporate Woods and running south. Look at me using cardinal directions with ease--I almost feel like a mid-westerner.

It was a beautiful day--cool enough but not too cold, leaves in vibrant fall colors, and a cool dense fog that was almost creepy the morning after Halloween. They have the funniest squirrels in Missouri. They look like their tails were dipped in bright orange paint--almost like they dressed up as punk rocker squirrels for Halloween and forgot to take off their costumes.

Race Report: Waddell & Reed Kansas City Half Marathon

What a great race! The weather was crisp and sunny, the crowds were supportive, the bands along the race course were terrific, and the course wasn't nearly as hilly as I had feared. My official time was 2:33:21. I stopped along the way to take lots of pictures, and the course had more hills than I am used to, so I am thrilled with my time.

Here we all are, shivering and huddled in the morning chill. I fretted over the weather all week, as I watched the weather predictions get colder and colder. It was 40 degrees at the starting line and for the first two hours of the race. It didn't get into the 50s until after I finished the race. I ended up in long sleeves, a light-weight running jacket, capri-length tights, gloves, and a visor. I worried that I would be shedding layers throughout the race, but I kept it all on until mile 12, when I decided to shed the jacket so my race bib would be visible at the finish line.

I ran the first mile with the 2:40 pace group (a 12+ minute mile), and then decided I felt good enough to run faster than that. I also knew I would do a combination of running and walking, and this group was only running.

The first mile was flat, crowded with runners, and not scenic (which was fine since the sun had not fully risen yet).

Miles 1-3 included a steep curving uphill, so that you couldn't see the top of the hill. The picture above is just a little hill after the really big curving hill. There was also a lame switchback before the 3 mile marker that had a high school track feel, so that you could see the runners ahead and behind you, almost like being on parade. The band playing on the switchback was truly incredible. I'm not sure, but it may have been the Heather Thornton Trio.

Miles 3-8 were largely flat, with a few downhills thrown in. We traveled along a neat row of pubs and theaters, and through some nice, tree-lined neighborhoods.

Miles 8-10 were the toughest, in my opinion. It was a gentle uphill, with a virtually cheerless straight stretch through a park.

Miles 10-13 rocked. I think all races should end with a downhill stretch. I was able to pick up my pace, even when my legs were most tired. The scenery was also great, with a sweeping view of downtown Kansas City.

Here were my splits, according to my new, fancy Garmin Forerunner 405:
mile 1 - 12:26
mile 2 - 11:23
mile 3 - 12:07
mile 4 - 12:03
mile 5 - 11:15
mile 6 - 11:29
mile 7 - 11:17
mile 8 - 11:53
mile 9 - 11:53
mile 10 - 12:00
mile 11 - 11:31
mile 12 - 11:35
mile 13 - 10:54
Last 0.19 mile - 1:27 (a blazing, 7.8 mph pace!)
(I dropped a glove around mile 2 and turned back to pick it up--that, and not running the tangents accounts for the extra 0.09 mile on my Garmin)

Race pictures are available at Action Sports Images. My bib number was 4503, and my favorite two pictures are 41850-1978-026 and 41850-2206-031.

Next up, a 5K with Ben on Thanksgiving Day.

Diagonal Baby Blanket

For now: pictures







For later: pattern and description

Running Skirt Convert

I'll be the first to admit that I was skeptical of running skirts. They're so . . . girly. Sure, I saw the Runner's World article about a the Rise of Skirt Culture. And I know women who swear by them. But I just couldn't get over the stereotype that real runners don't wear skirts.

Between getting passed by dozens of skirts at the Chicago Distance Classic and watching the Olympics, I finally decided to try running in a skirt. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh wear bikinis in their sport--and no one questions their athleticism. Bikinis!

I purchased this cute Brooks Run Skort in "sorbet" yellow and took it for its first run tonight. Only one run, and I'm already a running skirt convert! The spandex undershorts are comfy, thin, and breathable. The skirt is long enough for modesty but not so long that it rubs my thighs with each step. And best of all, no possibility of fabric bunching or riding up on long runs. The final test will be wearing a skirt with my hydration belt on a long run, but I'm confident that girly skirts will become a permanent part of my running wardrobe.

Race Report: Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon

What a great race! Perfect weather, flat and beautiful course, good support and cheering crowds along the race route.... Despite rumors that the course was about a quarter mile too long, I still ran a personal best (2:31:33).

Ben dropped me off at the start line around 6 a.m. for a 6:30 start on Sunday. The sun was just rising and peeking out orange behind some clouds over the lake. The humidity was low, the temperature was around 60 degrees, and there was a light wind. You couldn't ask for better weather in Chicago in August. I had plenty of time to use the portojohn, do some last minute stretching, and find the 2:30 pace group that ran/walked 8/2 minutes. It was a happy group with some first time half marathoners.

Ben cheered and took photos around mile 1. Despite the wave start, the pack didn't thin out until well after the halfway point. Look at all the people!

The first half of the course was unremarkable. Two lanes of Lake Shore Drive were reserved for runners, which was a little tight given the number of participants. You could be in any city going south along the street. But the course was flat and the water stations were big and well supported. Our pace leader got us to the turnaround at exactly 1:15.

It's the second half of the course that is stunning. Traveling north along the bike path, with the beach and city laid out before you, waves crashing, and cooling breeze. I heard quite a few runners wish aloud that the race were longer or that they could freeze time to enjoy the view and the feel of the race.

Around mile 8, the race got tougher. I noticed that the pace group was falling behind pace, and I could start to feel small aches in my inner thighs and the back of my right knee. A group of five from the original pace group started running ahead, and we switched our run/walk ratio from 8/2 to 8.5/1.5. I did not see or hear from the original pace group until about mile 12.5, when the pace leader flew by at around an 8-minute mile pace. If I had stayed behind with the original group, I know my time would have been much slower. I think most, if not all, of the runners who stayed with the pace leader finished behind me. You run with a pace group to keep pace, not to keep pace, slow down considerably, and then speed up for a final mile sprint!

At around mile 10, the other four members of our splinter pace group sped up to make the 2:30 finish. I let them go ahead, because my goal was to finish strong and not to finish with a certain time. It was the right choice for me. I had a fantastic finish! During the last 0.2 mile, I passed about a dozen people, and sprinted across the finish with my arms in the air. Finishing strong was such a rush--and a better feeling than I ever could get from a number on a clock.

There are additional online race photos that show me pumping my fists in the air as I cross the finish. (My bib number was 1635.) A PR on a flat course was great. Next up is a slow, hilly race at the Waddell & Reed Half Marathon in Kansas City this October.