Flying Feather Recap

Race: Flying Feather 4 Miler
Distance:  4 miles
Date:  November 22, 2012, 9 am start
Finish time:  36:49, 9:13 min/mile
What sets this race apart:  Wine for all the finishers over 21! 

Another race, another PR.  It's amazing what a difference a year and 65 lbs makes!  

Mark and I with our wine at the finish.  Our first start and finish together!

On Tuesday I had a strength training workout.  I woke up Wednesday morning sore, and than I ran 8 miles, with the first 3 miles being fast.  I spent the rest of Wednesday rather tender and begging the child not to make me get up.  I sent Sarah several whiney text messages that I was going to have to change my race goal and asking how fast I was allowed to go.  The big concern is that I have a 28 mile weekend on schedule, 10 miles on Saturday, 18 on Sunday.  Pushing when I shouldn't is not a good idea.

So, Mark and I lined up with some of my friends at the 10:00 min/pace flag based on my new adjusted under 40 minutes goal.  (Original plan pre-soreness had been to shoot for 36 minutes).  Unfortunately, the 40 minute pace group lined up several flags ahead of us.  Based on the crowds at the race, they were right to do so, and we should have moved up there with them.

This is the third year I've done this race.  The first year, they sold 1500 spots.  This year?  4000.  Same course.  Same golf-cart sized path for half of it.  (First and last mile are on the road).  Needless to say, we spent a LOT of energy running around people.

Photo of race start courtesy of M3S Sports FB page.

At around a half mile, we'd been at a cozy 10:15 minute/pace, but I was chomping at the bit apparently.  I looked at my husband and said "I want to go faster."  His response, "well, let's go."  We said friendly good-byes to Laura, Mollie and Adam and swerved around some people.  Around 1 mile, I was getting frustrated (this is where it switches to the narrower path), and Mark was good at reminding me "patience, Mandy, patience."  LOL!  Despite the crowds and the energy spent running around people, we ran pretty perfect negative splits.   
Mile 1: 9:48
Mile 2: 9:17
Mile 3: 8:56
Mile 4: 8:38
Last 200 feet (I ran 4.04 miles): 6:35

We finally caught and passed the 40 minute pacers at mile 3.  My favorite comment of the day was by a friend who was running with those pacers.  After the race he said.  "Did you see me?  Did you see me as you went blowing by?".  Love it!

Mollie and I celebrating the race finishers rewards.

I think we could have finished this race faster with less crowds or a starting position closer to the start line, something to remember if we do it again.  Mark and I both agreed that it might be getting a little too crowded at this point.  Of course, it's a holiday race, so that is to be expected.  I always have to remind myself that these races bring out the rookie runners that stop and start and whine about 4 miles with lots of laughter.  :)

Nonetheless, this race has some awesome swag.  And, can't beat a bottle of wine for all finishers over 21!

Swag Bag: Hat, gloves, hat and a mini bottle of whiskey

Extra shout-out to my awesome friend Sarah for watching Avery while Mark and I ran this together.  It was absolutely AWESOME to run a race with my husband for a change!  And, I sprinted the finish faster than he did, beat him by 6 seconds.  :P

Don't worry Mommy, I was a perfect angel.

After the race, I started cooking an awesome Thanksgiving Feast.  Payment to Sarah and her family for helping with the kiddo.  (Plus, I kind of like them).  We realized afterwards that no one took a picture of the spread, but trust me, it was delicious!

For the record, my previous 4 mile race PR was 45:15.  If I've done the math correctly that's an 8 minute, 26 second PR.  For a 4 mile race.  It's going to be a lot harder to PR after this one!


Anyone else race recently???

What's your take on crowds and holiday races?

What's your favorite finisher's reward (other than a medal) for a race?  
I think I have to go with the wine.