I was in Alabama last week. I had a contract training for a youth care facility. While I happened to be in the area, what the heck, I just as well find a race. I checked the Trak Shak web site and the Birmingham Track Club site and found 2 races. Both were 5K's, one was a morning run in Lincoln, AL. the problem was I would have to check out the hotel, run and board my flight with no shower. The second choice was drive 45 miles north and run in Cullman, AL in the Eva Bank Midnight 5K. That seemed like the logical choice. I called my good friend Sammy in Fultondale, ( I lived in AL for 7 years), and picked him up on the way. He is 72 and needs a new knee so he can't run anymore so it was nice of him to ride along.
We had monsoon rain from 5:30 until 7:30 with street flooding. I rained all the way to Cullman, but the rain stopped at 10:45. The race began at 11:59pm and ended Saturday morning. I ran a bit slower than I have been running. All summer I have been in the 19:20 to 19:35 range. I ran the Midnight 5K in 20:22. It was good for a 35th place overall finish out of 595 and a 1st in the 55-59 AG. I didn't wear George ( my garmin), but some of the guys that did said the course was 3.2. It was a good race and I can now say I raced at midnight. It was then back to Birmingham. I dropped Sammy off and got to the hotel at 3:00 am, a quick beer and off to bed for a few hours sleep and then up and back to Nebraska.
I did have to take a 6 day break the week before my Alabama trip. I ran in my hometown on July 28th. It was a 5K as well. I was 3rd overall and ran a 19:36. After the race my ankle swelled up. I ran my 19 miler the next day and it swelled again. I ran on Monday but Tuesday the swelling and pain got to me. I went to my PA, (she is a runner). She x-rayed it and said the picture did not show a fracture. She said we should do an MRI but she said they are $4,000 so she suggested a steroid, ice, rest, elevation at night and ibuprofen. She felt it was tendinitis and she said if it wasn't better after that, then we would do the MRI. So far so good. I did 16 on Sunday, rested Monday and did 9 tonight at a 7:55 average pace. So far so good.
Well that about does it in the exciting world of Bubble Boy. I love it when rumors get spread about me in this town, because if it weren't for rumors I would have no social life.
Have a great rest of the week.
Running at midnight makes you slower! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Tommy O....I can't imagine running in that muck anymore. I remember a lot of races I did when I lived in Alabama were in the evening when it wasn't so hot and humid - if you call 90% humidity "less" humid than 95% - ha. I do have a lot of good memories of racing there, though - as I'm sure you do too. Glad the ankle is doing better :). Karen said it must have been the green beer she made you last spring...it was a miracle healer. Hahaha. I'm still not drinking it no matter what she claims! :)
Yes Jilly, it was the green beer and the seat cushion that made the difference, :). The humidity was worse than I remembered!!
DeleteWow! I can imagine running in the wet streets at midnight. I love rain that is hard then is GONE.
ReplyDeleteYou have had some great races and that long run pace is fantastic too! I am glad the ankle is behaving without the $4,ooo visit.
Thanks Raina. I am with you on the ankle behaving and saving four grand! I love my PA, she is so practical and I really think it helps that she is a runner!
DeleteNice job on the midnight 5k and winning your age group. Nice you had a friend to ride along with you!
ReplyDeleteI hope your ankle continues to do well. 4,000 is a little ridiculous for an MRI. I would put it off too! I am going to see a PT in two weeks for my lateral hip pain and made sure I was seeing someone who liked working with runners. I am not after all going to quit running if I don't have too!
Good luck with the hip. I always look for medical staff that run. They just get it!
Delete