Saturday, October 9, 2010

The Autumn Woods Classic 5K Trail Run Race Report!

Today was my first run since my marathon. The only thing that I have done this week is yard work and one two mile walk. This morning Kay and I headed out to the Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove for the annual 5K, 10K and kids 1K races.

Kay's cross country team volunteered for today's races and she ended up working at the t-shirt distribution table:)
The Autumn Woods Classic 5K attracted 759 runners/walkers. Here is a picture of the people behind me just a few minutes before the start.
Here is the view of the runners in front of me. The 5K race starts out on a paved trail and then later turns onto a dirt and grass road. There is also a pretty big section of rolling grass hills before changing back to the paved trail. It is a tough course with many rolling hills. My time last year was 24:04. I knew there would be no PRing today and I just wanted to finish under 25 minutes. When we heard the horn....we were off! Oh my goodness, I started out way to fast! I got caught up in the excitement of the start and buzzed along with the front runners. Mistake! Mile one 7:10! My legs felt okay but my energy level was not up to snuff.

This portion of the race was a little before mile one. See Mike, my pictures can turn out blurry too:)

This is the portion of the run that was on the dirt and grass road. I was not feeling so great here. I was starting to get thirsty and really wanted to start walking! What the heck....walking before mile two and the water stop!?! Do you see that little boy in front of me? Yep, he was a great runner and super cute! This little super stud runner and I were neck and neck for about 400 meters. After the end of this road we turned to the left onto the grass portion of the course. This is where the water stop was and I needed water ASAP! I was feeling a little light headed and was so thirsty. I got in line for the water and had my eye on the cup. This little speed rocket charged in front of me and I ended up slowing down so I wouldn't run into him. I ended up biting the big one in the wet grass! I slid a few feet and thought....you have freaking got to be kidding! Thank God there was hardly anyone other than the two guys behind me and the water stop people that witnessed this:) I quickly got up grabbed another cup of water and went on my merry way! This was a tough run and I did not feel the greatest. The marathon must have taken so much out of me because this easy little 5K seemed so challenging to me. The last mile I was out of gas and running on empty. Just keep moving...keep your feet moving and you will eventually get to the finish line. The last portion of the race is up hill and not fun. Last year I charged up that hill...this year...not so much:) I will say that not one single woman passed me during the whole race. There were 6 guys that passed me including little super stud:) All of the speedy girls charged out before me in the beginning of the race.

This is what the entire park looked like. The trees were gorgeous and I enjoyed looking at all of the beautiful fall scenery.
After my race was over I found out that I actually took 2nd place for my age group! My time is about 40 seconds slower than last year. Here are my stats....
Final time 24:45.
I placed 72 out of 759.
My little man ran in the kids 1K race and was so excited to get his race bib! They seperated the age groups for the kids and he ran with the four year olds. They were expecting 400 kids to be running so I am very happy that they broke it down into age groups. I would say that there were maybe 40 to 50 four year olds running:)

Here he is right after the start:) He was in 3rd place for so much of the race! We think he might have taken fourth. It is hard to say because he ended up passing a few in the five year old age group and there were parents running with their kids. He had a blast and it was so much fun for us to watch him charging along!

Look at my little runner in his swim trunks:) He wanted to have shorts with the mesh inside like my running shorts do. He grabbed his swimming trunks and said they were now his running shorts:) After the race all of the kids got finish ribbons and a pumpkin! Score! What else does a kid need? Nothing:)

Last Saturday we met my college boy for a football game at the University of Minnesota! My college boy and I are both Gophers:) It had been some time since we had seen him. We texted him and met him in the concession area. My hubby purchased food for him and it was like Christmas morning:) The joy of free food for the college student! Oh, the little things in life!
Happy running, biking, swimming and lifting! Cheers to you all!
I want to let everyone know how sorry I am for my lack of commenting this week. I have been feeling a little bit of the post marathon blues. Hopefully I will be back to my cheerful self soon:)

61 comments:

  1. Fabulous news all around. Your boys are so cute and congrats on having such wonderful boys!
    Congrats on your race, too and thanks for the gorgeous pictures of the trees...I'm living vicariously through everyone else's autumn pictures!

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  2. I didn't have a chance to congratulate you on your awesome marathon! Way to go Julie!

    You are amazing running a 5k the week after your marathon and taking 2nd place in your age group. Great job!

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  3. What an awesome race course! Those trees are beautiful! I can't wait to see some fall foilage in my area.
    Great job on a fab race!!
    Love the pics of the little ones running!

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  4. what the heck?! look at you running a 5k barely a week after your 26.2! Then placing no less! Shouldn't you be sitting on a lillypad somewhere being worshipped???

    great job Julie, you amaze me.

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  5. How many people do awesome in a marathon and then go on to get a medal the next weekend for another race?? Apparently YOU do!! Awesome!

    Your little man looks so cute and tiny with that big ol' bib on his shirt. Love it!
    ~RR

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  6. wow! congrats on bagging 2nd place =)

    you little boy looks so cute =)

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  7. Wow! Congratulations on the great race so soon after your marathon!

    I love that your little guy has new "running" shorts. Cute!

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  8. That looks like such a pretty race! Well done to your little guy he looks so sweet with his bib on!

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  9. congrats on the AG award. Very cool that the little guy ran the kids race too :-)

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  10. Only you, Julie! AG award a week after running a marathon...lol

    Congrats!

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  11. Great run a week after your marathon! Super time and 72/759...! Fantastic run, well done Julie! Those trees are beautiful!

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  12. Adorable picture of you and college boy. You did great in your race, especially since you just ran the marathon. You will feel like your old self, soon. Just think about what's coming up next on your schedule and that will help with the post-marathon blues. Thanks so much for all of your support and for thinking about me. It really does mean a lot to me. :)

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  13. You are the Racing Queen. Give it time, you ran a marathon and you will be yourself again in time.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and the GL. The race didn't go as well as hoped and not as bad as feared.

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  14. A fast time and you got it only a week after the marathon. I think that Springsteen thought of you when composed "Born to Run". The little runner is fantastic. I see, crowded races there!

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  15. So pretty up where you are! Congrats on 2nd!

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  16. I can't imagine running another race yet...you did great. Congrats on the age group place!! Sounds like a fun trail run, despite the little slip!

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  17. Jameson may be post college but he still responds to free food!

    Congrats on the age group win!

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  18. You're making me feel very tired and wimpy when I hear that you ran a good 5k one week post-marathon. I could do nothing of the sort so soon after! Way to go.

    Both your guys are cuties!

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  19. wow congrats! you were pretty close to last year's time AND let's not forget this was post-marathon. that makes a HUGE difference! trust me, i've run races a week after a marathon and it is hard!

    i'm obviously not a guy, but i just feel like swim-trunk mesh would chafe? i think you need to get little-usain the right gear :)

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  20. That's it, I'm moving to MN - you guys have medals for EVERY race!! So jealous, me love some hardware Heehee. Great job on the 5K, I can't believe you ran that well after your marathon last weekend - you are amazing!! Love love love your little guy out there running, he has some great form and is going to follow in his momma's running footsteps :). I know how much it meant for you to see college boy again, too.

    HUGS!!

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  21. wow i love this race report! you did great! sorry about the tumble! your little guy is too cute in his "running" shorts and your college guy looks happy to see you!! plus, plus, plus!!! :D

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  22. Way to get out there again!! I have yet to run:)

    Your little man has good form! haha...seriously awesome pics as always! it was a family affair!

    I snapped out of the post marathon blues yesterday...its all good from here!
    have a great week
    Derek

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  23. Pretty cool that you can be feeling lousy and STILL take 2nd in your AG! I wiped out twice today. Must be going around! Lol.

    We have a similar spread in kid ages...I have two teenagers and a first grader. Yea for your little guy. Looks like he did great. All my youngest cares about is that finisher's medal. :)

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  24. Yay for getting 2nd place in the run, especially since you weren't really feeling the greatest! I have heard that marathons do take a lot out of you, so I think you did awesome!
    Yay for you little guy! How cute is he! :)

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  25. Your little man is so adorable!! Great shots of him -- he looks so happy!

    I'm sorry you're feeling the post-marathon blues. Just look at pictures of your adorable kids and that amazing fall scenery (and the fact you're doing TRAIL RACES NOW, TOO?!) and there's so, so much to be happy about.

    Great race, Julie!

    xoxo,
    A

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  26. Congrats Julie! Great race!

    And so funny to see both of your boys, one big and one small. I love it how your little boy runs :)

    Do you have to stand in line for water? In our races there are volunteers who hand it to you and you can keep running if you want to.

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  27. Age group award - woo hoo. Great show!

    ...and the colors = beautiful

    Oh, On Wisconsin!

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  28. Congrats on the 5K bling!! ;) Oh, and I used one of your photos in my post this morning... Have a great week!!

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  29. Lovely photos. So great to run in autumn..It reminds me of something.

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  30. Wow, you overburn the first mile, stop for water, take a digger & you still place at 24 & change? What on earth am I doing wrong? HA! You're awesome.

    Your little guy is super cute & the college one ain't so bad either. In that pic, you could easily be mistaken for his girlfriend (if it's not too gross for me to say so, HA)... what I mean is that you look very young for our age, good for you!

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  31. Great race report and nice way to recover from your first marathon!

    By the way - I'm working on my marathon schedule for next year and taking readers' recommendations on races. Come on over to the blog and comment - a fabulous prize potentially awaits!

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  32. Great job on the 5k so soon after your marathon-awesome! The fall colors look so pretty. I just hate what comes after fabulous fall - brrrr! You boys are so handsome - you must be a proud mom!

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  33. The little one is soo cute!!! :) I love watching kids running their 1 mile races. They are soo happy little runners :)

    Congratulations on your place!!

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  34. GreaT race report...i love it when the trees are changing colors! your boys are adorable!

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  35. a girl after my own heart - I love how we love to race, even when we know it will not be our best race. You ran so well just after the marathon and on grass/dirt - that's extra tough.

    Congrats on your award.
    Love the pics of your guys. Too cute!
    Hope you have a good week Julie, and I hope the post marathon blues fade FAST.

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  36. Did you take that blurry pic on purpose? It's OK if you did.
    Julie, I would totally run that race under-hydrated versus another biffy frontal episode.
    Speaking of which, didn't you just run your first Marathon like yesterday? Wow.
    And I love your little guy, clearly influenced in both wardrobe and competitiveness. How you place in your AG so shortly after the Marathon, well, that's what makes your story so much fun.
    Great job, and thank you for the lovely seasonal pics. Once again, you bring the race to us.

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  37. I am not worthy to be blogging friends with such a Super Star. 2nd place?! Awesome.

    You should have tripped that little munchkin before you got to the water stop. You probably lost a little momentum (and time) from your spill. Else, you would have won your age group for sure.

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  38. What a beautiful photo of you with the medal! I'm sure that your enjoyed running next to those trees with colours of autumn. Nice photos of your little man who ran the kids 1K race :) He looks so excited.

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  39. nothing like getting back into running at a race!! That one is HUGE. We don't have many running races here with 700+ participants. My son came home from college this weekend to upgrade as a referee, and he requested a specific menu :-) LOL... We were happy to oblige!

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  40. i love the trails!!

    good job julie!! :)

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  41. Great job love all the fall pictures. :)

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  42. Totally understanding the post marathon blues! Great job on both the 5K and the marathon! We actually stayed in Maple Grove and my hubby was at the Gopher game. Also, too wierd but I'm positive I saw you at the Metrodome. I was with a good friend who also reads my blog and she pointed you out. I only saw you from behind (lookin' good-lol!) I knew you would want to run another marathon-quite addicting! Great Job!! Oh-and your little guy-just adorable!

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  43. Great job on the 5k!
    I'm sorry to hear you have the post marathon blues. No good! I hope you feel more cheerful soon! :)

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  44. Congrats on the 2nd place AG award and a great 5k time (especially for having done a marathon a week earlier crazy girl!!) And a 7:10 first mile?!?!? Wowsers.

    Oh, and it's too bad your son is a little too young for me, otherwise I think I'd be having you do some sort of set up! ;)

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  45. ok, you ran a mary last week, and a 15 k this week and took a poduim spot, wow, congrats!!!

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  46. 2nd place! 24:45 ... you are so awesome ... this post blinded me for a few minutes!

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  47. what a beautiful setting for a race~SO pretty! Congrats on grabbing 2nd :)

    I love love love it that your little guy ran~and in swim trunks! too cute

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  48. You are amazing Julie!!! And congrats on the 2nd place finish!

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  49. Awesome work! Did you recover OK from the marathon???

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  50. Congratulations Julie! You did an awesome job (2nd place in AG!) after your marathon last weekend!

    I love all the pics of your boys. So cute!

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  51. Both boys are adorable. Great job on the race.
    Sorry but it is nice hear that even marathoners get tired from time to time!!!

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  52. you always write a great race recaps! Quite a racing family you have.

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  53. Beautiful race course and wonderful race.
    So happy for your little guy.
    Great running recap, Julie!

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  54. I noticed you wore a Garmin for the race ... do you program it with some split times or do you simply use it as a stop watch?

    Plus, what display readings did you use for this awesome 5k?

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  55. I like perfume options too :) It depends on my mood of the day which perfume I want to wear.

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  56. Your little guy is too cute. I love that he wanted to wear shorts with mesh inside! They really do pay attention don't they? :)

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  57. Loved the pictures! You are awesome - what a great race, and look at your guns! :)

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  58. WOW, you did awesome, especially just coming off of a marathon. You are a little speed demon!

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  59. Congrats on your 2nd place for your AG! Your little guy did awesome!

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  60. Excellent racing, sorry the twins and I missed you. Both 2 year olds did the 1K in Maple Grove. Katie and I the 10k. Im glad you love running and are doing so well at it. I wish you the best and im sure I will RUN into you sometime.

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  61. Hi Jennifer,
    I just attempted to call your old phone number....no luck. If you still have mine call me, I would love to talk to you:)

    I saw Katie at Earth Day earlier this spring:)

    If you can't get a hold of me by phone e-mail me. jkaiser4 at fairview.org

    Take care Jennifer!

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