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Time now to retire that good old pair of Nikes that served me well for 400 miles and to switch to a new pair of rubbers! Same brand, same model because when it comes to running shoes (especially) when you have found the perfect fit you stick with it.
Let's see how far I can go by the end of the year now! 
I made a new PR tonight!!! WOOHOOOO!!!
Photo Courtesy of David Colby Young - Maine Running Photographer.
I went to the WBCS 5K starting line with a lot of can-do attitude and the firm intention to push myself this time. My goal was to finish the race in 26:08 minutes, which means running a constant pace of 8:25 min/mile.
In fact, I had made a little "cushion" and set my Garmin 305 to "kick my butt" when I would run under 8:15 min/mile pace - which happened a few times along the course - but I didn't expect I would end up running an average pace of 7:50 min/mile (7.7 mph) and finishing in 24:40 minutes! LOL
My previous best time on the same course was 26:30 minutes, on the second race of the series and before I hurt my knee. Last week I made it in 27:48 minutes. Although it was more a relaxed chit-chatting run with friends than a race, I still have improved my time by 3:08 minutes this week!
Today's time was my best time in the series (so far) but also my best time ever! And my first sub-25 as well!
I guess slowing down during my training runs (easy and long runs who often tend to be tempo runs) and doing that hillwork/speedwork with the Ladies running group yesterday provided my legs some benefits.
Besides, being behind the finish line of that 5-miler last weekend and seeing competitive runners really pushing themselves until the very end of the race also brought me some motivation.
And... I like running in the rain!
It was a long weekend for us because Mister Tricotine was on vacation this week. Friday, we went Blueberry and Raspberry picking at the farm. Picking Blueberries was a first for all of us. We got about 4 pounds of berries for $7 only!!! Much cheaper and more flavorful than at the grocery store, for sure!
Saturday early morning, I volunteered in a race for the first time ever. It was interesting to be behind the finish line for a change, and I got to see the fabulous Joan Benoit Samuelson finishing First Female Master! At age 51, the Marathon Legend ran 5 miles in 29:18 minutes! That is a 5:52 min/mile pace!
In the afternoon, I returned to Yarmouth with my little family and we attended the Clam Festival. Not the best place to eat for a Vegetarian, but thankfully festivities were not all about the food - although there was tons available. There were also races, music bands, competitions, expositions, shows, rides and activities for kids.
Sunday early morning, long run with my running group. Together we ran the second part of the B2B course (the hardest part) back and forth, at easy pace; 6.2 miles in a hour. Back to our starting point, I felt like running some more so I decided to keep going on my own in the direction of the starting line of the race (Crescent beach) and to make this week long run a 10-miler. That "Elvis Bagel" I had as a pre-workout fix (an hour before starting running) provided me sufficient energy to sustain a 10.31 miles run total (1:42:40). We have a keeper!
Instead of Peanut Butter I spreaded Almond Butter and I added salt (to get extra sodium in my system) and Nutrition Yeast.
I only needed to drink water during that long run, but I believe that if I had run a few more minutes I would have had to "refuel". As I was cooling down and stretching, I started to experience a muscle cramping in my abs, but after drinking a recovery shake and more water, all was fine. Next long run, I will try one of those Crank Sports e-Gels I just got in the mail. I have heard great reviews about them. Thanks, Blaine!
This weekend, kids were invited to a birthday party in a very cool pizza place. The whole restaurant was 50s theme decorated. A real museum! Even the restrooms door was in the spirit!
Another French girl... Lady Liberty!
July 4th, 2008 -- RACE DAY -- My first 10K ever!
I went to pick up my package the day before the race and I was delighted to see that I was in the 500 first persons to sign up for the race; as so I got a pair of New Balance 1062 Running shoes, and I also got a New Balance High-Tech shirt for being one of the first 800 to sign up!
In my package was also my bib number and my ChampionChip timing device, a little plastic disc to tie to one of my shoe lace. It was the first time I had to use one of those and I was not sure how and on which foot I was supposed to put it on... I decided to temporary go for the left foot and to look around me to see what other participants did when I would be at the race... Once there, I saw that some people had put it on their left shoe and others on their right shoe. So I went and asked at the registration table, just to make sure, and I was told that wearing the disc on my left foot would take me to be in the first three finishers while having it on my right foot would not make me win... HA! HA! Humor was obviously in the spirit of the day! LOL
For once, Kids also had a package to pick prior the race, and they both had a T-shirt and a whole day free pass to the YMCA!
Now how though that 10K race was!!! I was told it was hilly, but I certainly didn't expect that many up and down steep hills all along the way! A real roller coaster! LOL
My goals were running all the way (no walking no matter what) and finishing within 60:00 minutes maximum.
Well... DONE and DONE!
I finished 519th out of 918 participants -- 22/48 in my age group.
My official time (chip time) was 54:03 minutes -- avg pace 8:42 min/mile
8:36 min/mile according to my Garmin (7 mph - max speed 10 mph).
Avg heart rate 96% - high 105%!!!
I didn't know one's heart rate could go over 100% (?!!)
Elevation Gain (ft) +469 / -461
And for the first time in a race, I was faster running downhill than uphill!
That is another proof that training on a treadmill is not enough!
It was nice to get to run my first 10K race with one of the Ladies of my new running group. Well, I started the race with her but I soon realized that I wouldn't be able to keep up with her very long. She was obviously going too fast for me and I was advised to start that race slow, so I decided to let her go and to run my own race, in order to pass the finish line... alive!
Now, because I started the race too fast, every following lap could only be slower than the previous one... I was getting tired and to make it even less funny, every hill on the course was hiding another one... However, at the beginning of the last mile - with the help of a Clif Shot Block and a few sips of water - I felt like I was able to speed up a bit and then to sprint to the finish line! eh eh
Mile 1 -- 7:50 min - avg speed 7.6 mph - Max 9.7 mph
Mile 2 -- 8:28 min - avg speed 7.1 mph - Max 8.6 mph
Mile 3 -- 8:36 min - avg speed 7.0 mph - Max 8.1 mph
Mile 4 -- 9:00 min - avg speed 6.7 mph - Max 8.7 mph
Mile 5 -- 9:01 min - avg speed 6.7 mph - Max 9.3 mph
Mile 6 -- 8:47 min - avg speed 6.8 mph - Max 7.6 mph
Mile .28 -- 2:18 min - avg speed 10.0 mph - Max 10 mph
As I was approaching the finish line, I saw Mister Tricotine and I heard my little ones cheering for me, little Sweeties! Always carries me on to the end! 
After the race, snacks and refreshements were offered to participants and I got a few, but I didn't have time for a cool down race as I would have liked to. I could only stretch my legs for as long as I could before the start of the Family Fun Race. Later on, as my kids went to our car with their Daddy to change from sweaty clothes to dry ones, I went to get a well deserved leg massage hoping that it would ease the pain in my left hip flexor - I started feeling uncomfortable around mile 5...
The Family Fun Run was one mile long and my little ones ran like little champions. They were not the fastest but none of them quit running and walked! I am so proud of them! ♥ At the finish line, they got a keepsake bracelet of the race and a popsicle.
After racing my little family and I attended the 4th of July parade (I was filmed and appeared on the news in the evening! eh eh) and we went for a Mediterranean lunch before going back home and relaxing until the evening fireworks.
It was a really fun active family day, and I am looking forward to the next one!
