Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Race #24
So, do you just want the bare facts, or should I dress it up a bit? (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself!)
My arrival in Vermont started out a bit surreal. I stopped in a Rite Aid to get some sun screen and shampoo and ran into Paris Hilton. Okay, it really wasn’t Paris but the likeness was good enough to supposedly get the girl mistaken for Paris on a recent trip to Vegas, which she told us about in great detail. Then as she checked out her pack of camel no-filters, she started discussing the upcoming Red Sox game in great detail ala Frank Deford from NPR. I truly wondered what time warp I’d entered.
I tried to prepare myself for the initial “sighting” that I correctly assumed would be at the registration desk at the Coventry Resort (www.coventryresort.com). I was greeted by an upbeat bare chested gal, native Vermonter, who worked the front desk in exchange for her summer membership at the resort. From there I was quickly introduced to Gary and Susan Butts (yes, that is their real name) who are the race directors of not only this race but a series of naked running events (www.nudist5k.com). I have to say, it was a bit hard to make eye contact without doing a quick once over, but I pulled it off.
After checking into my cabin I went back out to the market for food. On the way back to the resort, my nerves kicked in a bit knowing I was going to be baring it all real soon. As soon as I got back to my cabin I stripped down. I figured it was best to acclimate myself a little bit while putting away my groceries in the privacy of my own cabin. I did glance out the window at one point and saw the guy next door who had wisely donned bib overalls to do the weed-whacking around his lot. One thrown stone and thing could get painful.
I packed up my beach bag and headed to the beach. The sun was out so needless to say, I wasn’t alone. I put on my game face (hell, had to put on something I’d already taken off all my clothes) and made a bit of small talk with a few people before settling down on my towel. I have to say it felt great to have the sun melt into my entire body, unhindered by clothes or even a bathing suit.
One of the couples I talked with had been coming to the resort for about eleven years and was around my age. This was definitely a 50 and plus crowd and as this guy told me, they’re just a bunch of good old guys and gals sitting on the beach, soaking up the sun, and drinking cold beer. The only thing different are they do it with their clothes off. And after spending a couple hours out there with them, I realized that’s truly all it is, how neat!
While at the beach I started talking to a guy from Rochester, NY who was there to run the race for the fourth time, he’d been coming since the inaugural race four years prior. He got me a bit nervous about the race when he started describing the mud, hills and bugs.
Race day dawned cool and overcast. About ninety minutes before gun time I heard the race director over the loud speaker getting people psyched up for the race, daring everyone to run nude, giving race information and generally keeping the atmosphere fun. He kept this up for the next four hours! During the race, after the race, he kept up the banter. I could even hear him while I was running through the woody (oops, sorry) part of the race.
I did get the answer to my question, where do you pin the bib numbers? You obviously don’t, they write the number with a black magic marker on your arm, thigh, butt or wherever you want. I got an arm and a thigh and then Sue wrote “50 by 50 Florida #1” all down my back!
The field was it’s largest ever, 65 runners. Most of the people in the race were first time nude runners but almost all of them were serious to semi-serious runners. They lined us up by pace so I was in the back – looking a lot of hairy butts. The first mile was through the resort grounds so though not flat, at least the path was wide and somewhat groomed. I started out behind the only clothed runner which helped make me forget that I didn’t have any clothes on. I quickly found out the race was going to be loud and painful. I’m not bragging, but I think I was the “loudest” female runner on the course – if you know what I mean! I also found out that if I ever need to record the sound of a galloping horse, I just need to run naked and mount the microphone in the vicinity of my chest!
In talking with my Rochester buddy and a couple other runners after the race they pretty consistently reported that they were about 5 minutes slower than their normal road 5k time. I can’t say the same for me. I clocked in at 42.47 a rather weak showing. Between the flopping boobs and muddy, hilly trail I just never got to a good running place.
Though I didn’t place in my division, a minor disappointment, I did get an award and recognition for my 50 by 50 in 50 efforts and for coming the furthest distance to run my first nude race – Wahoo, Run Naked!!!
After the race one guy asked me how long I’d been a nudist. When I responded, “oh about 24 hours,” he was surprised and said, “Wow, you seem so comfortable with this!” Maybe I’ll have to go back next year………………..
My arrival in Vermont started out a bit surreal. I stopped in a Rite Aid to get some sun screen and shampoo and ran into Paris Hilton. Okay, it really wasn’t Paris but the likeness was good enough to supposedly get the girl mistaken for Paris on a recent trip to Vegas, which she told us about in great detail. Then as she checked out her pack of camel no-filters, she started discussing the upcoming Red Sox game in great detail ala Frank Deford from NPR. I truly wondered what time warp I’d entered.
I tried to prepare myself for the initial “sighting” that I correctly assumed would be at the registration desk at the Coventry Resort (www.coventryresort.com). I was greeted by an upbeat bare chested gal, native Vermonter, who worked the front desk in exchange for her summer membership at the resort. From there I was quickly introduced to Gary and Susan Butts (yes, that is their real name) who are the race directors of not only this race but a series of naked running events (www.nudist5k.com). I have to say, it was a bit hard to make eye contact without doing a quick once over, but I pulled it off.
After checking into my cabin I went back out to the market for food. On the way back to the resort, my nerves kicked in a bit knowing I was going to be baring it all real soon. As soon as I got back to my cabin I stripped down. I figured it was best to acclimate myself a little bit while putting away my groceries in the privacy of my own cabin. I did glance out the window at one point and saw the guy next door who had wisely donned bib overalls to do the weed-whacking around his lot. One thrown stone and thing could get painful.
I packed up my beach bag and headed to the beach. The sun was out so needless to say, I wasn’t alone. I put on my game face (hell, had to put on something I’d already taken off all my clothes) and made a bit of small talk with a few people before settling down on my towel. I have to say it felt great to have the sun melt into my entire body, unhindered by clothes or even a bathing suit.
One of the couples I talked with had been coming to the resort for about eleven years and was around my age. This was definitely a 50 and plus crowd and as this guy told me, they’re just a bunch of good old guys and gals sitting on the beach, soaking up the sun, and drinking cold beer. The only thing different are they do it with their clothes off. And after spending a couple hours out there with them, I realized that’s truly all it is, how neat!
While at the beach I started talking to a guy from Rochester, NY who was there to run the race for the fourth time, he’d been coming since the inaugural race four years prior. He got me a bit nervous about the race when he started describing the mud, hills and bugs.
Race day dawned cool and overcast. About ninety minutes before gun time I heard the race director over the loud speaker getting people psyched up for the race, daring everyone to run nude, giving race information and generally keeping the atmosphere fun. He kept this up for the next four hours! During the race, after the race, he kept up the banter. I could even hear him while I was running through the woody (oops, sorry) part of the race.
I did get the answer to my question, where do you pin the bib numbers? You obviously don’t, they write the number with a black magic marker on your arm, thigh, butt or wherever you want. I got an arm and a thigh and then Sue wrote “50 by 50 Florida #1” all down my back!
The field was it’s largest ever, 65 runners. Most of the people in the race were first time nude runners but almost all of them were serious to semi-serious runners. They lined us up by pace so I was in the back – looking a lot of hairy butts. The first mile was through the resort grounds so though not flat, at least the path was wide and somewhat groomed. I started out behind the only clothed runner which helped make me forget that I didn’t have any clothes on. I quickly found out the race was going to be loud and painful. I’m not bragging, but I think I was the “loudest” female runner on the course – if you know what I mean! I also found out that if I ever need to record the sound of a galloping horse, I just need to run naked and mount the microphone in the vicinity of my chest!
In talking with my Rochester buddy and a couple other runners after the race they pretty consistently reported that they were about 5 minutes slower than their normal road 5k time. I can’t say the same for me. I clocked in at 42.47 a rather weak showing. Between the flopping boobs and muddy, hilly trail I just never got to a good running place.
Though I didn’t place in my division, a minor disappointment, I did get an award and recognition for my 50 by 50 in 50 efforts and for coming the furthest distance to run my first nude race – Wahoo, Run Naked!!!
After the race one guy asked me how long I’d been a nudist. When I responded, “oh about 24 hours,” he was surprised and said, “Wow, you seem so comfortable with this!” Maybe I’ll have to go back next year………………..
Friday, June 18, 2010
No go in Idaho
Had to cancel my trip to Idaho this weekend. Mom is clearly on the mend but we both agreed she would be more comfortable if I stuck around town this weekend. No worries, I'm still on track to finish up all 50 races by September 2011.
I had a long weekend in Florida this past weekend with my friends Rachel D., her daughter Karen M. and her daughter Michele M. We had a great time in spite of the 95 degree temperatures. Unfortunately, I didn't run once while I was down there. Even at 6 am the temperatures were just too unbearable for any strenuous exercising.
Today I finally got out and hit the pavement for a little while. It was a miserable run. Between the heat, humidity and overall laziness on my part, I don't have anything positive to say. I looked for a local race for tomorrow but I think I'm going to have to motivate myself in the morning to get out and try for 5 miles.
Good luck to Michael, Katy, Karen and especially Steve as they take on the Idaho Falls Scenic Classic tomorrow. I'm expecting some medals!!
I had a long weekend in Florida this past weekend with my friends Rachel D., her daughter Karen M. and her daughter Michele M. We had a great time in spite of the 95 degree temperatures. Unfortunately, I didn't run once while I was down there. Even at 6 am the temperatures were just too unbearable for any strenuous exercising.
Today I finally got out and hit the pavement for a little while. It was a miserable run. Between the heat, humidity and overall laziness on my part, I don't have anything positive to say. I looked for a local race for tomorrow but I think I'm going to have to motivate myself in the morning to get out and try for 5 miles.
Good luck to Michael, Katy, Karen and especially Steve as they take on the Idaho Falls Scenic Classic tomorrow. I'm expecting some medals!!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Race #23
A picture paints a thousand words!Got behind on my blog posting as my mother has come down with an unbelievable rash over her entire body, including in her mouth, and life for her has been pretty miserable since I got back from Wisconsin. My sister is here and we are hoping that soon they'll come up with a diagnosis, get the right treatment and be on the mend.
Hudson, WI is a quaint little town on the St. Croix river, right across from Minneapolis. The location worked well for me as I was able to not only bum a place to stay from my cousin Kris G. but she, and her friend Judy, gave up their Saturday morning to get me to the race on time! And serve as videographers.
Judy and I before the race.The race started at the local high school than basically ran downhill to the river. Therefore we were bused up to the race start for the opening ceremony. I didn't realize Kris was videoing me climbing on the bus like a kindergartner off to her first day of school. So I stood there waiting for her to take the picture - always the camera hog!
The race is held in memory of Monica Jensen who lost her life to melanoma. Before the race started they head of her foundation spoke then her son had everyone let go of the balloons we were holding. It was a neat sight to see, hundreds of balloons let lose in the sky.
For the most part the course was downhill. There was an uphill at the start and then another toward the end, but for the most part, it was downhill. And I love the downhill! Contrary to all the advice one reads on race management, I take full advantage of gravity. It paid off for me, I had a 9:05 at mile one in the cemetery and 18:55 at mile two. If I could maintain a 10 minute mile pace, I knew I could break 30. Giving the double armed wave at the end of the race wasn't the smartest move on my part. As soon as I got past I started sucking air just as I needed to come in for the big finish. It was great to be able to hear the announcer holler that we could still break thirty!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Race #22
Life is all about the lessons learned. I learned two important ones in Ohio: (1) if your bladder gives you any signal that it needs to be emptied one last time, don't ignore it, and (2) if you ignore lesson #1, always run in black nylon shorts! This was the second race in my triple crown. The Preakness will need to be renamed The Peeness. I was heading out at a good pace, 9:10 at mile one and felt good. I had a sip of water at the water stop and immediately started to pee in my pants! I got it stopped, thought I could keep going but after mile two with a time of 19:05, I just couldn't keep going. Luckily there were some tractor trailers parked behind one of the buildings so I veered off course, dropped drawers, grabbed the front bumper, leaned back and let if flow! It sure felt better but I lost at least 30 seconds.
Mentally at this point I was ready to throw in the towel. I knew breaking 30 minutes was going to be nearly impossible. Coming up the last incline I contemplated walking when I heard a guy yelling, "come on 50 by 50 get moving!"
(Look at that Forest Gump stride!)
Getting me moving in this clip is Bill A.'s friend Mark who I met before the race. Mark is a pretty serious runner and was looking to break 20 minutes. Neither of us got the PR we we looking for, but I definitely wouldn't have posted a 30:56 if Mark hadn't circled back after he completed his race to all but carry me across the finish line. He also made me realized that I have more in the tank at the end than I give myself credit for and need to dig a lot deeper.
Thanks, Mark!
Mentally at this point I was ready to throw in the towel. I knew breaking 30 minutes was going to be nearly impossible. Coming up the last incline I contemplated walking when I heard a guy yelling, "come on 50 by 50 get moving!"
(Look at that Forest Gump stride!)
Getting me moving in this clip is Bill A.'s friend Mark who I met before the race. Mark is a pretty serious runner and was looking to break 20 minutes. Neither of us got the PR we we looking for, but I definitely wouldn't have posted a 30:56 if Mark hadn't circled back after he completed his race to all but carry me across the finish line. He also made me realized that I have more in the tank at the end than I give myself credit for and need to dig a lot deeper.
Thanks, Mark!Waiting for the fun to start
Still all smiles - must be the first 10 feet of the race!
Still all smiles - must be the first 10 feet of the race!
While in Cincinnati I stayed at Jane and Bill A.'s house on our old street. We lived in the house next door when I was little so it was fun to come back and see the old street and literally take a walk down memory lane. Unfortunately, our old house was the only one on the block that wasn't getting much tender loving care. I'd originally hoped to get inside, but once I saw the condition the outside was in, I decided I really didn't want to see the inside as it's probably pretty depressing.
Former neighbors, Jane and Bill and my host and hostess for the race.
The old homestead - a little worse for wear and not nearly as large as I remember!
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