Jingle, Jingle...or Not..

The alarm went off on the rainy, cooler morning...and well...we crawled back into bed...rather Amy crawled back in...Mark didn't get out at all....

And so the tradition of registering for the Jingle Bell run and not attending it continued...

For the third year in a row, we registered for the race and did not run the race...at least at the specified race time.

Why is that race always on a rainy, cold morning? We really should stop registering...but each year we think it will be different...

See, these are not the only three times we have registered for it. I have actually run it..at least once in my memory...back in the late 90s...maybe '98? Or another Jingle Bell race then at the very least...

So, Mark and I did our 6.2 miles on the treadmill at the gym.

Not sure if this should count toward the year end total...Jon thinks it should count twice since we actually ran on the treadmill and succumbed to utter boredom to finish our mileage. I have to admit, by the end of the run, I was desperately wishing we had braved the weather and run that morning.

The 10K was less than fast on the treadmill...I think my time was near 57 minutes...but at least it was finished.

So, does it count? If I can find another race between now and our final race on 12/31 then I will run it--to assuage my guilt. But if not...I may count it.

Stay tuned for the special superlative issue on January 1.

Turkey Chase 10K

Gobble! Gobble! It was time for our annual Turkey Chase run! This year had some special features to it! Mark and I were trying to figure it out, but we think that this was maybe the 6th year or so that we have run the race. Each year it seems to get bigger...and more crowded.

This year was cool because Jon joined us! Last year he was signed up too, but the back to back Philly Marathon/Turkey Chase combo was too much for his knee. It was great to have him with us!


And since Mark was nice enough to run with his phone, we were lucky enough to capture the moments on his iPhone.

We made it to the start with less than five minutes to go. We parked illegally, but luckily guessed right that everyone was too busy either running, organizing the race, or giving thanks to give us a ticket--thankfully, we were right on with our guess.

The temperature and weather was perfect--about 42 degrees at the start, cloudy, with just a few raindrops as we waited for the start.

It was the same great course we have been used to. We stayed together for the first three miles or so and then we each did our own thing. We met up at the finish line within minutes of each other.

The post race was something we were looking forward to. The "other" Amy Trenkle and I met up in the "runner village." Amy and I have been exchanging emails for maybe close to two years now. We both have similar email addresses, and having the same names, means that we have received each others' emails....so we have frequently sent each other our misguided emails. It's been fun to get to know each other because we have the same name---and both yield from Michigan. Pretty cool to finally meet.



And we also met up with Sonia and Ping! We talked about running this race last year with Ping, but we missed each other. This year, thanks again to Mark running with his phone, we were able to meet up! We were able to see Sonia as we crossed the start line and she saw us at the finish line, but we didn't see her. It was neat to have another reunion!

So, team Trenkle-Hannum headed home---we were very excited for the warm car. We quickly showered and packed and were off to Mom and Dad's for a great Thanksgiving.

Many things to be happy for definitely--a nice holiday to remind us of the good things in our life.
Race #24 completed!

Results:

425  81/253   2032 Amy Trenkle           35 Washington DC    1:05:55   55:43  8:58

My splits were:

Mile 1  9:19.27
Mile 2  9:30.14
Mile 3  9:27.19
Mile 4  8:50.38
Mile 5  8:37.88
Mile 6  8:23.15
Mile .2  1:36.73

Total:  55:44.74

1274 156/233    937 Mark Hannum           34 Washington DC    1:08:45   58:32  9:26

1021 129/233   2033 Jon Trenkle           30 Cambridge MA     1:05:39   55:27  8:56

Why stop at 20? Marine Corps 10K

Oh yeah! Race number 21! Another Mark and Amy duo race!

We parked in the same spot that Jon, Leslie and I parked at during their visit and walked to the start on the Mall. It was an awesome morning--near 50. We arrived on the Mall as the sun was coming up. It was beautiful.



Several UPS trucks greeted us, ready to take our bags. With 15 minutes until the start, we stripped down to our running gear, and handed over our warm sweatshirts and headed to the start.




It was much more crowded than I had remembered from last year's run, although Mark assures me it was just as crowded last year.

Miss DC 2010 sang the National Anthem and we were off. Well...two minutes later we were off....

Our start was a slow one as all of the people who don't follow the pacing signs were up near the front. But we kept trucking and eventually found our niche in the crowd.

It was wonderful to only have a 10K to do....

At mile 3 I couldn't believe that I was half way over with the race. :) What a nice feeling! A nice way to finish up four weeks of road races--with the shortest one last. :)

I felt good and strong and the cool weather really, really helped. That, and knowing that while I was pushing it for 10K, there were thousands more who had another 20 to go after I finished. It was a good feeling.

Miles 4 and 5 were the hardest...primarily because it's a straight away along the Parkway without many other spectators and just the looming trees where the finish is far, far in the distance.

The last .2 miles are crazy in that a hill, that is deceptively steep is there to greet us all for the final push. Both Mark and I thought we were going to puke when we finished---but we didn't! I guess this is a sign of a race well run. :)

My final time? 50:47.20--a PR, not only for this season but in a long time. It was definitely worth the pain.
Mark and I walked into Rosslyn and met our UPS truck to claim our warm clothes. From there we walked across the Key Bridge into Georgetown to see the marathon go by.


All that was left along the Key Bridge were empty water cups--and Marines cleaning up the runners' mess....
And at the other end of the bridge, a steady stream of runners....


We got there as the 4:30 mile pace runner went by. The runners looked fresh. This was in between miles 8 and 9 for them.

We stood and cheered for a little bit--admiring the costumes that ran by--yes, some runners did dress up for Halloween and the marathon!

We particularly liked the sign outside of the Georgetown Running Company.

Another water stop and more cups, port-o-potties, and people!


Mark and I walked down the length of M Street...


and admired the awesome Lululemon cheerers...I've seen them in other races, and I must admit, they're pretty energetic and fun. They had music blaring from the store.




The race turned on Wisconsin toward the waterfront. There was a pretty good singer camped out on the corner, who had just begun to sing Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" when we came by. He was pretty good and you could tell he was appreciated by the runners.


Mark and I walked the rest of the way down M Street and stopped for some much needed breakfast and coffee at La Madeline (like we did last year)...and then continued onto the subway to our car.

It was the perfect race morning and a wonderful way to continue our awesome weekend!

Amy's splits:

Mile 1 8:51.51
Mile 2 8:03.39
Mile 3 8:08.31
Mile 4 8:03.09
Mile 5 7:47.40
Mile 6 7:58.98
Mile .2 1:54.52

Total for 6.2: 50.47.20

Woooohooo!

Bib

FName

LName

City

State

Div

Age

Sex

ChipTime

ClockTime

Overall

SexPl

DivPl

AgeGrade

Ctz

Divt

Sext

Pace

45748

AMY

TRENKLE

WASHINGTON

DC

FEMALES 35-39

35

F

50:44

53:06

680

160

12

60.4%

Bib

FName

LName

City

State

Div

Age

Sex

ChipTime

ClockTime

Overall

SexPl

DivPl

AgeGrade

Ctz

Divt

Sext

Pace

45626

MARK

HANNUM

WASHINGTON

DC

MALES 30-34

34

M

51:14

53:36

748

561

102

53.2%

Capitol Hill Classic 10K

For the past 30+ years my school has hosted the Capitol Hill Classic, a 10K race to benefit the Capitol Hill Cluster Schools. It's quite successful in raising money and because of it, we, the teachers and students, have benefited from the money raised. Our school has gotten supplies, computers, library books, field trips and much more!

I first ran this race back in 1998 when I was living in DC and working at the National Postal Museum. Back then I was living by myself (Mark was still at K), walking to and from work, and running between 5-8 miles everyday with a longer run on the weekend. I was in much better shape than I am in now.

Amazingly, my records from the May 3, 1998 race are online....and my results?

   6   2/28   Amy Trenkle             22 WASHINGTON DC        43:16

I guess I know what I need to do, I just need to find the time to do it! :) I was the 6th overall woman to finish and the 2nd in my age group.

I didn't have as stellar of a race, but I did have just as much fun. The course has changed slightly over the years and now comes up the Independence side of the Capitol rather than the Constitution side, giving runners a little more recovery time before they cross the finish line.

Mark and I were excited to see many of my students, parents, and coworkers out there. It was a nice morning and we had fun. :)


Total results are here.

 233  59/290   1810 Amy Trenkle              34 Washington DC    54:50 54:22  8:45

633 142/239   1811 Mark Hannum              34 Washington DC    54:50 54:21  8:45

We are looking forward to many more Capitol Hill Classic races! :)

Nine races down, 11 to go!