Texas has 48,920 bridges – 40 percent more than any other state. This morning at 5 am I joined Keith to run one. We did not run the longest clear span in Texas, which is the 1250 feet of the Fred Hartmann Bridge over the Houston Ship Channel. The runners choice in the Bay Area is the Seabrook-Kemah Bridge. The Clear Lake Fitness folks run it on Thursday mornings.
I have been eyeing running this bridge for several months, but never had done so before. Keith showed me the way and I completed a short warm-up and two relaxed loops for a 4 mile run in around 40 minutes. It felt good, I am sure I will be back. The worst part was getting up at 4:15 followed by thinking about the cars barreling up the road at 60mph.
I've decided only to race one race until Memorial Day. That will be the Summer Kick Off Run in League City on May 13. I am really starting to get excited about running the Bolder Boulder on Memorial Day. I get so fired up about this race because I started running last year in order to train for it. I was so nervous before that run, you would have thought it was an Olympics. Well we did have Frank Shorter as a starter and he did address our wave at the start. It got me running so it will always be special for me. This year, they are awarding a special certificate and a ribbon for anyone who can do the 10k faster than their age. Goal #1 will be under 50 minutes, goal #2 will be under 49:06 for a PR, and goal #3 will be 48:32 which is 10 minutes faster than I ran last year. Tough challenges at altitude, which could easily cost me 10 seconds a mile, not to mention crowds and hills. I could strike out on all three goals. I'll certainly be thrilled if I even make the first goal. Nevertheless, I much prefer running at altitude than in the Houston humidity.
Through LetsRun.com, I found this quote from a Steve Cram article in The Guardian about the London Marathon. I'm also getting fired up to start my training in Colorado on June 1 for marathon #2.
"For those who don't get it, I defy anyone to spend time at the finish line once the elite runners have got the bus home and not be moved or inspired by what they see. After commentating on the day's proceedings I met up with the Run For Glory group briefly on Sunday evening. The room looked a little like a reception area at the local surgery, but even though some were barely able to stand as I passed on congratulations, every single one was bursting with a sense of achievement the likes of which many admitted they had never experienced.
The slowest of the group was out there for 6¾ hours and in years gone by I might have dismissed such a time as the product of an unprepared entrant. However, when you know where that person started from and what a monumental shift in lifestyle was required just to make it to the start line then the perspective changes and the admiration grows."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Back in Oklahoma in the 80's, I had a friend in Oklahoma that ran the Boulder Boulder a couple of times, if I recall, the course went up the mountain and then down. Are you running hills to train for it? Can we expect a costume like the gorilla suit?
No mountain, it starts at 5306', peaks after mile 4 at 5391' and finishes at 5343'. But there are more ups and downs in between these points, so it rolls some. No gorilla suit, I'm ugly enough.
I must say, I felt a tremendous sense of satisfaction after I finished my first marathon this year (Houston Marathon). Despite finishing it in 5:02, the sense of acomplishment was genuine and mine alone. I was totally awed with myself. I'll cherish that day for a very long time.
I'll be at the Summer Kickoff Run! See ya there, and maybe you can bring me that copy of RTN with my photos. :)
Post a Comment