Women Run The Cities - 2016 - Race Recap

Indeed, it turned out to be a lovely day for Women Run The Cities 10 mile race. It did not begin that way though. Rain poured all night and it was all dark and wet in the morning, even when I left home. I was sure it would rain during the race, so I grabbed my rain jacket. I thought it would last all through and did not want to run with a thrash bag or soaked. But indeed, it was all dry & sunny by the time I turned off Hiawatha Avenue. Temps were an average 65F.

Start point is my favorite - Minnehaha Falls. I picked up my bib & shirt. Race route turned out to be the familiar West River Parkway and Franklin Avenue Bridge, which I ran the previous week for 20 miler. Familiarity is always welcome. Women's only race has a great vibe about it. Not much different from other races, because there are just the same number of women running other races. But it's only in women-only race, does everyone get to hoot politely at the group of shirtless men running opposite on the sidewalk.

Race co-ordination was excellent. Starting point tents with pickups, bag drops, coffee and more. Volunteers at every water-stop were cheerful. Water & Powerade supplied just right. At the finish time, the setup was intact (new for me) and volunteers gave a huge bottle of water with my medal.

Roads were all soaking wet, but not a drizzle from sky. I wanted to save my new shoes from the muck/chikal and ran in my old ones. Clothes-wise, I got to check my Fall gear for the first time this season - full pant, tech shirt and rain jacket. Result: Rain jacket was not soaking, full of locked up sweat, but I could run without it, under these circumstances.

I stayed cheerful and devoid of any pressure through the running. I had my months of training behind me, the one I thought had made no dent/improvement to my capacity. So I did not care about my result, but ran what my newly trained brain told me to run. For the second half, I felt comfortable, to see there were a lot of women still on road. And most of them walking much faster than I was running. And then a lady from behind me said, she was using me for motivation. So then I geared up to stay ahead of few atleast :) Amazingly I finished with my 10 mile PR of 2:07 hours.

 

Loving this race shirt with hoodie. It will be a great for Fall.

Minnesota Capitol Run - Recap

20 miler is the last formidable milestone of a Marathon training. I can never imagine doing it all by myself. Doing it well, I mean. So it helps that my training group arranged it be an entire big event in itself. Lifetime Run organised the Minnesota Capitol Run .

Start point was at the MN State Capitol Hill. I managed to reach there early at 6:30 am. There were a few tents and like 700 people ! Turns out, there were 755 runners ! There was no bag-check like in races, because this was a group training run. So I had to leave my phone in the car and don't have any good pictures.
But the arrangements were fantastic. A wristband in the beginning, to identify us as part of the group. Since all would run along the common sidewalks, the start was in waves and on both sides of the streets. We started with Summit Avenue, turned towards East River Parkway, then across the brand new Franklin Avenue bridge to West River Parkway and turn around the 10 mile mark and back the same way. There were water stops manned by volunteers and coaches, every 3-ish miles with water, UCAN sports drink and porta-porties. I was surely the last finisher and the very last water stop volunteers stayed back even when it was so late.

I can say enough about the joy of waking up in the dark and driving through a sleeping city to a run start point. Nothing is more reassuring than a car with the 13.1/26.1 or any other running sticker and people dressed in running clothes rumbling around. That's a confirmation that I have arrived at the right destination. Just a matter of finding the closet parking. The biggest benefit of a group run is that I can switch off my mind and brain, and just run even with sleepy eyes, cause everything else is taken care of :) With run-buddies and coaches by my side, I need not worry about anything. And by my side, I don't mean literally, because everyone else run at much faster pace than me and disappear within minutes, but just them being in view, means I won't get lost and run some other route.

It was a perfect weather day. Run was a delight along Summit Avenue, which was lined up by some historical buildings. Their architecture reminded me of the ones near Vidhan Soudha in Bangalore. They are much different than the new ones in suburbs. East River Parkway beautiful, and hilly and it vanished quick. West River Parkway is my usual favorite, the one leading to Minnehaha Falls. Along the way, we run-buddies did weigh-in on whether to run the complete 20 miles or keep it shorter for a time limit of say 4 hours. Since I felt this was my first & last chance to do a 20, I went ahead till the 10 mile mark. I did have lot of company till then. Us anchors did cheer each other to keep moving. The return on Summit Avenue felt more lonelier. I noticed the weather and cloudy sky were identical to how it was at 7 am ! It was hard to believe that 4-5 hours had passed. That's a blessing really. It was 4:30 hours by the time clocked showed 18 miles. And since it was only me around, I shrugged and started walking full time now. The water stop at 3 miles was still active, bless them. And I trudged the last few miles to the car park. By then it showed 21 miles. Thankfully I was not cold or shivering.

Udupi - Geo signature items

All things that bring back Udupi thoughts ....

Outdoors
	Coconut Totta -  with the leaves swaying. closeup & longshot.
	Rice field when full.
	Heavy Monsoon rains  Udupi krishna temple
	Malpe Beach
	Large-sized brick block houses - the type which is only in DK, Goa coastal line.
	Narrow road with the large-sized brick block
	Udupi temple outdoor shot - decorations & all
	Bhoota Puja or Aati
	Udupi Bus Stand
	Well / uggel - click at pandibettu, brahmavar, elsewhere
	Yakshagana season before monsoon
Foods
	Holige
	Wedding lunch
	Banana Leaf lunch Manjolda sweet Goli bhajji
Flora & Vegetables
	Dee gujje
	Sautekai, Basale - like they keep in butti in market.
	Jackfruit tree - there is one near moms house.
	Mallige - like they keep in butti in market. Kanakambaram flowers Pingara (arecanut flower)

Minnesota Half Marathon - StPaul - 2016 - Race Recap

I will say this in the beginning. I am not feeling any thrill. Disappointment actually, about the unsurprising result. I guess I knew it would end up this long. But I zoned out thanks to my stubborn refusal to look at the watch in the middle of a race. I did not try any harder.

This year, my strides have shortened. I refuse to stride farther, for fear of tiring out. Its more like a power-walker - one feet refuses to leave ground till the other one touches ground; both are never in the air at the same time. I continue to take walk-break. I am beginning to doubt that slow but steady approach I adopted this year. And the part, that I skipped every single speed workout in the training cycle. And that I stick to treadmill, and not run outside much. I mean, there is only so much you can stride on a treadmill, without the risk of falling off.

All these emotions are about my race result from last Saturday. No passionate emotions, I refuse to do that. Maybe if I did bring in some passion, I might speed-en up ! Anyway ... I completed the Minnesota Half Marathon in 3:05:54 hours. I ran the same race 2 years back. It was HOT that day ! Killer hot. And that one, I finished in lesser time - 2:49 hours. What's the logic ! I am lost really.

The organizers took loads of steps for the temperature control.
Start time was earlier this year, which is a brilliant change. The start time was 7:15 am vs (if I remember correctly) it was 8:30 am or 9 am last time, so by the end time of 12 noon, I was baked in the sun.
The course had a new loop for the same Shepard Road. We started westward and turnaround was around 4.5 miles. The return lap was not as sunny as it used to be. There was even a huge stretch of woods in the middle divider, so it helped. Then we ran 2 miles further from the start point and turned around the bridge. This lap was by the river again. So this time, it was more time spent facing west. And also on the side closet to the river, so it was cool & breezy. And a huge stretch had trees vs last time when it was bare throughout. The temps through this race was 70F-75F range.

Rest of the arrangements were also first class. Packet pickup at Running Room in St Paul, the previous night, gave us an opportunity to explore Harriet Island Park, which was crowded with youngsters peering into their phone while walk aka Pokemon Go hunting. Water stops were perfectly spaced. Some of them had a new sports drink ASPIRE, which was lemony good.

Personal Nutrition wise, I am beginning to hate those Gu things. I stuck to only 2 i.e. 1 per hour. I don't think they help in anyway. I should go back to eating a Cliff Bar through the race. Other thing, I missed on carb loading the previous night. Indeed I ate less than I usually eat, on a non-pre-run night. Well so the result of the experiment is that yes I should dine my fill on a pre-race night.

This year's shirt is very different good. I am thrilled actually. It has a great fit and the hemline is a trendy cut. I feel like I can wear this for casuals, not just running. Medal was the same Minnesota map one, only larger. I actually love this medal.

Okay, sounds like a good quality ranting post after a long time. And first one for Running category :)

Past Minnesota Half Marathons: 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2014 |

Get in Gear 2016 - Half Marathon - Race Recap

I had such a perfect race, I had nothing to blog about. I don't know how to post my smile emoji here :) Seriously like nothing went wrong, so what to do write about ? But blogging tradition needs to be maintained. Snapshot needs to be posted. Else how would I remember what a Perfect race felt like ? After all, memory dims pretty fast. So here it goes.

I reached early this time and parked at VAMC and took the shuttle provided by Get In Gear. Morning was chill for an warm April morning. I was seriously doubting my single layer blue UnderArmour shirt. At the pickup point, I decided to wear the race shirt as my 2nd layer. It was short sleeve too, so I doubted how it would help or that it will heat me up. But it turned out perfect. And I love the material for some reason. This is my new favorite race shirt.

Start was usual and got to hear the usual chatter around. My pace was good. I did not push or burn. Kept the slow steady pace. Keyword being steady, which means less walking.

I have to talk about the finish. As I reached the turn to take left towards the cobblered path towards the Minnehaha Falls, I was worried about my time, something i had ignored all the while. And then I saw the clock showing like 2:58. Now I had to keep this sub-3 so I sprinted like mad and made it within 3. I was thrilled by that alone. And later when the official result was published, found out that it was 2:55:53 . Yeah !

I was not tired or sore. Throughout & at the end and after the end. Indeed, I lingered around so much, I missed the last bus-shuttle to the car park at Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). Somebody guided me towards it (coz I am bad with directions even after coming from that way in the morning bus). And then I walked those 2 miles. So it turned out to be a recovery walk - something I usually skipped. That helped keep soreness away,  I can see that now.

Workout Water Bottle Review - CamelBak, Pogo, Nathan SpeedDraw

I have to call this out first - I was not paid by these bottle companies or anyone to review these.  I am doing this because I have owned tons of bottles in my life,  and never thought they are anything which needs any thought. For the first time, I struggled with CamelBak a lot and one internet post helped me with it. So that makes me want to create my own post too. So here come more details.

CamelBak Eddy Water Bottle - Rain (0.75L)

Lovely cute bottle. I choose the one in Blue. I wanted to try out CamelBak since I saw a lot of people using it. I had heard some vague praise for the spout & non-leak ability. When I started using it, it was so frustrating. I struggled & struggled at the spout, no water came up. Imagine that in the middle of a tiring workout. That would be a first for anything which calls itself a water bottle. It was so silly, I thought I was wrong, cause how could the manufacturer go wrong in such a simple thing. Finally I stopped doubting myself and looked up the packing label. Nothing specific. Then finally, I turned to God..Google.
Lot of responses, numerous material. But none speaking about my problem.
Finally, this community post on a bike forum was the one which solved my problem. After that I was like ahh, that how it is !!!  The video here is correct.

1. 
   

   Pennylane 

   Ruby level (4000+ posts)
   

   Join Date

   Dec 2005

   Location

   .

   Posts

   4,990

    *Upate in first Post *Camelbak water bottle...What am I doing wrong??

   Update :
   
   Just got off the phone with Camelbak. The directions on the packaging are kind of deceiving. You need to pull open the valve and then press the bite valve open with your thumb and finger. It took a few times but mine finally popped open and works! Obviously they have received numerous calls about this sort of problem! He also said you should never have to cut the straw to get them to work.
   
   
   Thanks for everyone's help!
   
   
   
   
   I purchased the Eddy for my ds. Took the first one back to Target yesterday because no water was coming out. Just assumed it was defective. Tried the new one this morning and it doesn't work. The only directions are flip it open, bite, and drink.
   
   I feel like an idiot!
   
   Ann

   Last edited by Pennylane; 08-29-2013 at 02:45 PM.

   Reply With Quote
2. 08-27-2013#2

   123LuckyMom 

   Diamond level (5000+ posts)
   

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   6,778

   

   You're not an idiot!!! Most of the bite valves come closed. You have to work on them a bit to get them open. If you just bite and suck, the valve may still be shut, and you'll get nothing. Try squeezing and manipulating the valve a bit with your fingers or teeth. Make sure you can squeeze the valve and see that there's a hole there! If you can't get it open, you should exchange it, but I've never had that happen.

Pogo Tritan Chug - Grey ( 32ounce )

I got a smaller one for my kids for their school purpose, which they promptly lost in a few weeks. Then they saved a bad design one for rest of the school year. Irony.
I liked how the cap fits and won't leak any water. No pipes, so I don't have to be in suspense about mold of any kind. Spout is of firm plastic and right size - to drink or to cleanup. So I have the convenience of a cap-bottle, without the inconvenience of opening the cap & swirling it back on.
It's size is perfect fit for most treadmill water holders.
32 ounce size is perfect for any hard exercise lasting 1 hour.
The hard plastic of the spout can hurt the teeth a bit, if you drink while on the move on treadmill.

Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Flask, Black

I got the one in Silver & Black. It's for outside runs, esp on routes that are new to me. Earlier all my long runs around a lake, multiple laps of the 3 mile distance. So I could leave my bottle and fuel bars on any bench. And I got used to running without carrying any load. I still am not ready for the jiggle of a hydra-belt. Since now I was going to run out & back on unfamiliar routes, I decided to give the hand-held bottle a try.

Initially, I was not sure how I would feel about the sploshing inside. I have used this for runs lasting 3 miles to 9 miles. When it is completely full, there is hardly any sploshing. It doesn't weigh bad too. I am training myself to drink less. So it does last for about an hour. Anything more, and I need to refill it. So I plan accordingly and refill it at any water point I see.

TCM Hot Dash 10 Mile 2016 - Race Recap

I had such a pleasant 10 mile race at TCM Hot Dash on 19-Mar. I had made up the blog post in my head while running and promised myself I would publish it immediately after reaching home. Haha, but life happens and here comes the post a few weeks late.

Got up at 6:15 then snoozed till 6:30. Made my tea and Dosa for breakfast. Avoided looking at the clock to avoid the rising panic of being late. Then got ready and left home by 7:30 am. Surprise outside - there was a neat silver powdery layer of snow on roof & roads. Great ! Its Spring but no letup in cold. Again I avoided worrying about icy roads and being late.

This race was in NE of downtown Minneapolis and I had googled the route to start point, in advance. Driving the last block, I tailgated a car with Ragner sticker. Reached at 8:30 at the parking spots given in the race site. I had toggled all week about buying an advance parking ticket. Thankfully it was not full and no long queues.

Temps were around 25F. There were many people warming in their car. It was tempting to stay in my car, but I needed my bib and a right size shirt, so I followed a runner-looking crowd and reached Registration tent. I had an extra hoodie but nothing else for bag check. Good thing about winter races is I can carry my phone & car key in my jacket. Its the hot races where I need a safe place to store these. By the time I reached, my fingers had frozen in my new thin running gloves - but I am never going back to those bulky gloves while running. Actually I was avoiding panic that my gear might not be enough for these temps, because of a long run gone bad 2 weeks back. I got lost and cold around West Medicine Lake and gave up because I was going cold. I had to call my hubby to pick me up from wherever I was. Last week's 9-mile long run at Luce Line Trail went super, so I could keep my panic down.

Everything was cool and methodical at Registration area. Bib, T-shirt, safety pins, coffee. Then I followed others and landed in a building with heating. A Blessing ! Its amazing how many places you can discover by following others. That was a good place to spend the next 40 minutes. Then in the last 10 minutes, when the 5K crowd had left, I did the bag check and pit stop and joined the 10 mile start line.

The roads were wet or icy all through. I think I ran the whole thing looking down - not a recommended approach, but it worked for me. My mind was only on one step at a time. And past few weeks of training helped. I could feel the difference in  the quality of my run. I was not doing any Flash-like sprints or anything miraculous. But I could run farther without walking. I think I walked at Mile 3. Here onwards it was in the North Arts District. This route was same as first half of Minneapolis Marathon. Second half will be covered by Get in Gear.

For a change I set my watch to show pace. This was a change for me, after some chat with a trainer. Numbers showed some facts. Even though I felt, I was chugging same as before, the pace showed I really started fast and was slower in the next half. So that's a learning.

At mile 8-9, I was fed-up, waiting for this to end. It was on the Mill City side of the river. And I could see I have to go past the StoneArch Bridge and turn. I could hear the guy on loudspeaker at the finish line. It was hard to believe all of that, was just a mile away. So it was causing panic. But I made through that and even sprinted the last quarter mile and finished at 2:12 minutes.

Picked up my bag (not a last one haha) and made my way to the end celebration area. It was very satisfactory. A hot meal of mashed potatoes with peas & cornflakes, lots of energy bars and water and photo booth. Skipped the free beer.

This race T-shirt and medal are awesome.

Securian Winter Run 2016 - Half Marathon - Race recap

Time really flies off. Or I think I have completely forgotten that I have a blog. Or I was disappointed by my time in this race and did not feel it special enough to post. But it's a race with some unique experiences. So yes here comes my speedily written post.

I have signed up for Securian Winter Run for last 2 years. This year I showed up at the start venue,  like just before closing time for packet pickup; not a few hours in advance like last year.

It was cheerfully crowded. I like this race's waiting area - indoor on a January morning and perfect distance from car park. There are food samples, hot chocolate, Frosty the mascot and warm-up routine by Y.

The Half Marathon race route was usual from the Securian Building via St Paul downtown to Shepard Road and then back. Water stops were 3-4 miles apart. The race morning started out at 30F and soon it was 40F at the peak race time. It qualifies as hot, but nevertheless the water -stop spacing were perfect. As usual, there was enough race crowd till 10K turnaround - note the 5Kers and 10Kers start 5-10 minutes after Half Marathoners. Then after the 10K turnaround, I was left alone. I could see a pink-jacketed female half-a-mile ahead, and all I could do was follow her; not letting her go off my sight; else I would be truly alone in the back. This went one for another hour.

Soon the leaders could be seen coming back after the turnaround. Gwad I hate this part of loopback races. I am not embarrassed, I just hate their guts/training/skills. So the leader came, I don't hate him much. Then the next bunch of high-achievers, and soon the middle packers. I avoided eye contact with any, by looking to my right at the mountainous cliff. (Revelation music - Oh so that why I never have any memory of the river during the Securian race. I was wondering last week, if that part of the river is completely frozen, but did not remember. Coz I never looked at it !). But most of them murmured encouragements to me. At this point, somebody called out my name, and it turned out to be my training team Coach Beth. It felt good, so I hugged her, then off our way.

I had avoided looking behind me all this while. Thinking I was maybe last & proud of it. I didn't want the pressure of finding someone else behind me, and then competing to stay ahead of her, which I knew I wouldn't be able to and then be dead last again. Or know that, yes I was the last anyway and be disappointed. But turnaround is when it is inevitable and it is revealed where I stand. So here I saw there was one lady a quarter mile behind me. I shouted some encouragements at her. By now its like 7 mile and exhausted enough to not really compete. Soon she caught up with me, chatted and then went ahead.

I have come away with a new superstition now. That other talkers take away my energy. Ofcourse it is because I always train alone without conversing with anyone. And in a race anytime someone says a sentence, I overcompensate by jabbering away. Then that person goes way past me and soon disappears somewhere in the lead.

And by last 3 mile, we 3 had traded places. The last one was front of me and Pink jacket was behind me. And when I was in mile 10 or so , I saw an old guy on the other side. I didn't believe he was in Half because that would be like 6 miles for him. In the last mile, a girl in Ragner shirt ran with me and gave me a pep talk. I swear all those volunteers who stayed back for us last benchers - Big Thank You !

When I finished, the clock showed 3:03 hours. I was like, "Shucks where could I have saved those 3 minutes !" I mean with my pathetic non-training during the dark fall months with icy outdoors combined with a move, I didn't expect any better performance. But this was worse than last year's finish.

I made my way to the Securian building which was completely deserted by now. And this is why I never get to partake the freebies at the end of the race ! But volunteers had kept my bag and food ready for me. I limped around and settled on the granite bench. The girl in Pink jacket came. Once we were fed and drunk and basically alive, we chatted a bit. She is a young girl and was running with a bad knee. I lingered around for my ride to come. After more than half hour, that old guy came. I was so shocked to see him that yes he was in the Half. I wanted to help and we could find his bag but nothing more.

This time though, my run gear were perfection.

1. C9 cap and Securian headband from the 2014 race. This is my perfect (slightly excess but still) head gear for Winter.
2. C9 compression pant. No extra layer because I knew beforehand, that this would be in 35F-40F range. I didn't want to get hot like last year.
3. And for jacket I stuck to the C9 Soft Shell Jacket from Target. It has a perfect Hood and neck protector. A hood that doesn't fly off and saves my neck from wind, without needing a separate gaitor.
4. ASICS Women's GT-2000 3 Running Shoes
5. Gloves - they were the only bulky ones, but I did not get double layers like last time. I promised myself to buy some decent real-runner gloves after the race.

Among the race swag this year they gave a Tech full-sleeve T-Shirt, which I was looking forward to and a mug. Both in Black, Blue & White color theme. This year since I did not come early, it meant they were out of my size shirts and I got a XL Men's size, which is big even for me. There was some exchange schedule latter, but St Paul is too far for me to go for the shirt.

Apart from tradition, the other reason I love this race is the singular view of St Paul downtown, while trudging along from the mile 10 to mile 12.

My Securian Winter Races - 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2019 | 2020 |

Harry Potter new short stories

I don't agree with the new short stories published in Pottermore.

The reason why HP 7 fascinated me, was not just that she created a brilliant new world with things and events that were fascinating, but also that they were her inventions. There were talks of her being influenced by other books. Yet these were still very original or imaginary.

Fault with the new stories is that, they are trying to pull-in real life past events, into the HP universe. The native-american history and culture details. Salem witch trials. That is cheating, I feel. Salem fire trial portions in HP itself had pissed me off. Yes that was the only thing in HP series that pinched me as insensitively incorrect. And now the whole set of stories, trying to say real-life events were part of her universe.

Penseive, Dementors - I can't describe what I felt when they were first revealed. The simplicity of those ideas, yet their importance in the story telling - nothing can beat that.

I follow the HP fandom on FB pages, reddit and tumblr. The kind of devotion that is shown online always reminds me of Ram-bhakti.

Actually initially, I used to draw parallel between the HP-RW-HG trio and Ram-Sita-Lakshman trio when describing HP books to the non-reader aka my Hubby. And this was before it became evident that RW & HG are going to be a couple.

So ya, HP devotion is on it's way to meet the devotion shown to Ramayana. Maybe the earth history
is going through a loop. Ramayana was written, fascinated everybody both in terms of emotions as well as sci-fi effects, fans took to going ahead with interpretations, adding sub-stories, including in oral and dramatic sub-cultures and inclusive into Hindu religion. Maybe HP is following the same path.

And that is why I take a break from being a fan and am registering my protest. And a request to JKR to not include real world events and things into HP universe. Her wizarding world is fascinating in itself. Let any more additions be creations of her own. I know that cannot be an easy or short process. But she is more than capable of it. We have waited earlier and we can wait long. Let the movie studios not corrupt this please.

TC Fieldhouse Kids Fun Run - 2016

This year, we went to TC Fieldhouse Kids Fun Run - 2016. Simply to experience the University track field. The facility and arrangements were exactly like last year. I had blogged it in detail here.
Again, highly recommended for parents of young kids. Everyone will have a fun time.

The run swag this year was a lovely white full-sleeve t-shirt and heavy Medal.