| OK, let me start this post off by saying that I'm a bit annoyed with the NYRR. I would be madder if I had been planning on a real race today, instead of using the event to get in a long run.
First, the run went pretty well. I was aiming for a 10:19 pace and, according to my Garmin, I managed an average pace of 10:12. It felt kind of tough. I can't imagine going another 4 miles in two weeks at a pace of almost a minute per mile faster, which was the original goal. So, I'm sticking with my idea of a 10:00 pace and if I manage faster, it's a bonus.
The annoying part started after I was finished. My friend, Chelly, ran today. She was planning on a long run instead of a race, as well. At her long run pace this meant that it would probably take her over two hours. No problem. The website specifically said there was no time limit for the Colon Challenge. After I finished up and got my bag I headed back to the finish line to wait for her. Well they were already starting to break down the course. What's up with that? There were plenty of people lined up in the back at the start which meant they were figuring on taking over 1:40 to finish and you know some of them were over-estimating their abilities. I don't blame them for wanting to get the course down. With the late start it was already noon at this point. But it specifically said no time limit. So Chelly came in at 2:10 on the official clock or about 2:06.30 chip time with the hold up at the start. She came across the mats and gave someone her chip. A few people finished behind her while we were standing there. Then the mats came up and we headed out of the park.
When I got home and checked the official results, no Chelly. They cut off the finish at 2:08 and change. That's so not fair! And where's the sense. I could have possibly understood 2:00 even, although it still wouldn't have been what the website said, but there is no rhyme or reason to 2:08. The other thing that is slightly less annoying is that the official finish time is the only one listed in the results. Usually, they list both the chip and official time. So I have a finish time of more than 3 minutes over what I actually ran the course in and the only reason I know my actual time is I was wearing a Garmin Forerunner.
End of rant.
In doggie news, Shannon feels fine. She just dragged me around the neighborhood and I had to keep her from running at breakneck speeds. She's been on Lasix for over a week now because her lungs were even more congested when she was X-rayed a week ago. My un-medical opinion is that the antibiotics she was on killed an infection that was actually making her feel bad. The heart problems may have been contributing, but I may not have had any idea until her physical in the summer that her heart was going. Internet research says that she could live fine for a number of years with this problem if it is managed with meds. So here's hoping. And thank you everyone for your well wishes and offers of aid. They are much appreciated.
Labels: dog, races, running |
I think the posted times ARE chip times - at least mine matches up perfectly with what my watch says. Yours is different?
Congrats on a decent run. I think a lot of people just couldn't get warmed up, today, because the humidity was up and that increased wind chill. Still - it was shorts weather finally!