myWorld 5K

On Veteran's Day I flew from BWI to Denver for the 90th Annual NCSS conference. I was really excited to have a professional development getaway.

The flight was flawless and it was an easy trip from door to door.

Friday was a great conference day and Saturday morning I got up for a quick 5K in Denver.

I was excited to run in another part of the country. Despite the 6:15 departure time from a nearby hotel, I was enthusiastic about the race!


Pearson, the publishing company sponsoring the race, booked a minibus to transport conference goers from the hotel to Cheeseman Park where the race was to be run.


As we boarded the bus, it appeared that it would be a small and intimate running group. I loved the professionalism with which the race was run, and was even more excited that it would be a small running group---not thousands of people.

As we arrived at the park, the sun was just starting to come up.

This was our minibus! :)


The race had one (very clean) port-a-john, a ballooned race start arch, and a set up tent.

The race was a loop 2 1/2 times around the park.


The run itself, was VERY deceptive. One, we could not tell that there were undulating hills throughout the park....at least, not until we were off and running.

And for many of us, the altitude was KILLER! My big lesson for this run: ALTITUDE IS NO JOKE! For those of us who were from sea level locations, we really felt the altitude..especially by mile one. I was very glad that the race was only a 5K.

By mile one, my legs were heavier than normal and by mile two my arms were heavy with fatigue--a pretty rare feeling for me. I was excited that there were runners just in front of me...they kept me pushing myself.

But you couldn't beat the view---off in the distance stood the majestic Rocky Mountains.

As we finished the race (on the opposite side of the park) we were greeted by the mountains. It was one of the most scenic finishes I've had this year---in fact, I might have to say that it was THE most scenic finish! :)

I was really happy I had woken up early and participated in the small, but awesome race in the Mile High City.

Woohooo! Race number 22 complete!

And even better--the race raised $1000 for American Indian education in Denver! :)

	myWorld 5K Walk/Run
	Event Name: myWorld 5K Walk/Run Event Date and Time: Saturday, November 13, 2010 @ 07:30 AM Event Distance: 5 k City and State: Denver , CO Event Address: Cheesman Park 8th & Franklin Denver, CO 80218 view map Description: Pearson is hosting the second annual myWorld 5K run/walk at NCSS 2010 on Saturday, November 13 at 7:30 a.m. In honor of November Native American Heritage Month, the myWorld Run/Walk is a race to raise money for the Adams County Indian Education Program of Colorado, dedicated to closing the achievement gap for American Indian and Alaska Native students. Additional Info: This year’s proceeds will benefit the Adams County Indian Education Program of Colorado

This was also my best finish for a race this year--5th overall and 2nd for women! I'm not sure of the total field size, but they did say it was bigger than last year's NCSS race of 33 participants.

Results:

Male Participants
1.	Kenan Anderson	23:16
2.	Craig Ewing	23:39
3.	Clay Blazer	24:46
4.	Patrick Dorn	25:37
5.	Dean Brown	25:51

Female Participants
1.	Natalie Corbet	25:01
2.	Amy Trenkle	25:10
3.	Jen Malchiodi	33:24
4.	Sarah Porter	38:00
5.	Nancy Brawley	38:07

The rest of the day was as great--that afternoon I gave my poster presentation on the TRT experience.

Denver was a great trip!

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%

#20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!--THE ARMY TEN MILER!

Here it is! In October! Race #20! Race #20! In retrospect, it seems pretty fast! Where did the races go?

Mark and I arrived at the Stadium Armory for packet pick up after school on Friday. Somehow we ended up in different waves...with Mark in the wave behind me. Not sure how that happened.



Saturday night we went out to dinner with Tracey and David at Red Rock, a local pizza place. It was a great race meal--one for the two of us and Tracey as well. We agreed to meet up the next morning at 6:45 am at L'Enfant Plaza to Metro to the start together.

All went well and we got there with plenty of time to go! We went through a check point and it was there that an soldier told me that there were no electronic devices permitted past that point---arg! I had to put my music in a bag and bag check it. Double arg because not only did I have no music for ten miles, but I had to use my bathroom time to wrestle the masses back toward bag check.

I told Mark to hop in line and that hopefully we would find each other at the start. Surprisingly I found him at the port-o-potties when I returned, got in line myself (no, I did not cut) and we walked to the start. We got there with a minute and a half to go before the gun for the race went off! Talk about timing!

The race was a great course. It was pretty packed race---people, people everywhere! It was wonderful to run my 20th race with Mark.

And even crazier, we ran into Tracey at bag pick up and were able to catch up on our respective races as we rode the subway together back to L'Enfant Plaza.

It was a great day for all and a terrific way to celebrate the completion of my New Year's Resolution!


Mark and I headed to the City Diner and celebrated with yummy egg and cheese sandwiches on everything bagels, with double hashbrowns of course. :)

#21 to come next week! :) Yup, you didn't think I could just quit registering for races cold turkey did you?


Splits:

Mile 1 9:18.59
Mile 2 8:57.81
Mile 3 9:11.86
Mile 4 9:09.61
Mile 5 11:46.61 (bathroom break)
Mile 6 8:47.29
Mile 7&8 19:19.63
Mile 9 8:55.59
Mile 10 8:54.58

Total 1:34.18

Official time:

8780

TRENKLE, AMY

F35

WASHINGTON DC

9965

2895/9594

512/1682

1:03:53

1:34:18

Be More in B'More--the Baltimore Half Marathon

My 19th race was a race that I've registered for at least twice before but never run. I was anxious for the start of it this year...just making it to Baltimore for the start of the race was a victory!

I was pretty excited to run it. I loved that the race started at 9:45---getting from DC to Baltimore by 9:45 meant that we didn't have to get up ridiculously early and that I felt a bit warmed up.

But as I said good bye to Mark, my back froze up and felt so incredibly stiff. I know that I felt like I had tweaked it the day before, but it just tensed up....I couldn't bring my hands up behind my back and it hurt to turn from side to side.

I was worried as I walked to the start, but hoped that the more I walked the better I would feel.

I stood in the corral for my wave. And waited. And waited. I didn't feel much better, but hoped that when I started to run I would be ok.


The gun went off! I started to run. It was tense, but if I didn't turn much I was ok. Around the .5 mile mark I stopped to walk, wondering if I would be able to make it to mile one, let alone 13.1. I was glad not to see Mark because I think if I had, I wouldn't have finished this race.


It wasn't until mile 8 that I started to feel better. I loved the course. Probably because I seemed to know where I was but it was also a lot of new places. I LOVED the last three miles, which ran from Hopkins to the Inner Harbor---all downhill! I must say, there were more spectators than what I had hoped for--and they were awesome!

Around mile four, there were supporters who had a sign that said, "Nobody made you do this." I love it. Another sign called all the runners "smurfs" because of the color of the race shirts (which were quality by the way!).



In the end, I was happy with my time because I finished! By the end, when I was feeling better and knew I would finish I was elated. I will definitely register again for this race. I think the marathon would be a good one too....Definitely an awesome, awesome surprise.


Two thumbs up (and one joyous leg kick) for this race!


And always, thanks to Mark for supporting me along the way! We brought Soba this time which meant that Mark didn't have his bike. I saw him at the finish line just before I crossed it! :)




We enjoyed a tasty lunch at our favorite Baltimore diner, the City Cafe--a delicious post race meal! It took us FOREVER to get out of Baltimore because the marathon was still going on and all the cross streets were still closed. But it was nice to be sitting in a car, with Mark and Soba, on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon.

One more race to go until my New Year's Resolution has been met!


Splits:

Mile 1 9:45.68
Mile 2 9:18.17
Mile 3 9:17.13
Mile 4 9:09.16
Mile 5&6 18:40.93
Mile 7 9:17.12
Mile 8 9:25.17
Mile 9 9:20.16
Mile 10 9:31.60
Mile 11 8:59.78
Mile 12 9:20.14
Mile 13.1 9:23.43

Total 2:01:28.47

Bib

FName

LName

City

State

Country

Div

Age

Sex

ChipTime

ClockTime

Overall

SexPl

DivPl

AgeGrade

Split1

Split2

Divt

Sext

21632

AMY

TRENKLE

WASHINGTON

DC

USA

FEMALES 35-39

35

F

2:01:26

2:07:37

2477

981

139

54.9%