New Bedford, USATF Half Marathon Championship

Photo by the best, Scott Mason: Goatie in Barbie sunglasses with a Pusher escort




Doctor Death, Mad Dog, Glamour Hammer & I took the Goonmobile limo and met up with fellow Goons Animal, Taz, Heels, Machina, Smokin’ Ivy, Mr. Gambino, Bones, Silent Assassin and Mamacita. Pusher came all the way to support us with huge Goon flag & ran me in the last half mile.

I didn’t have huge expectations, my training had been limited coming off my knee injury and the race was the furthest I’d run in 11 weeks... so, I was absolutely 100% pleased with my results. During the race, I felt strong, catching up with some friends like Julie Moore, John Kleschinsky, Janice Platt, Rich St. Hillaire. Doc and I played back and forth a few times, but he was too fast for me... perhaps fueled by his arrest? ;-)

It was great to see friends Court Bird, Fitz & Michelle, Steve V, Scott Mason there supporting us.

Although it was my 8th New Bedford Half-Marathon, there were some firsts:

1) D chips this year... didn’t gouge my ankle with Velcro strap per usual
2) Didn’t get lost getting there (I swear the exit number on race website was wrong for years… not kidding)
3) Course PR & 2nd fastest half-marathon time
4) My first post-race ambulance trip to emergency room for 2 liters of IV, CT scan, dozens of tests & observation. *^&* !! it was one hell of a bonk -- the freaky part is how frequently we all go into “bonks” and how suddenly this became unrecoverable. I mentioned to PRof today that I often bonk after this race and have had to sit down on the gym floor afterwards before. This time, apparently there were convulsions, collapsing, eyes open but unresponsive... I came to on a stretcher being wheeled into ambulance. It shook me up a little and I think it shook up those who witnessed it! Glad I didn't see it! Looking back, I really didn't eat or drink correctly the day before or the morning of the race, it's tough for an 11:00 am race... I'll pay extra attention now.

Thanks so much to the people in my life for the extraordinary care, love & concern. This is living the dream... I'm such a lucky girl.

New Goon, Yeti

Michael Robertson... one of our newest Goons... and has his own blog

Goons went to Amherst 10 miler in the Goonmobile limo... Michael took off his shirt and his official Goon name revealed itself... Yeti. Yeti is cool with his name... we Goons are able to laugh at ourselves

Photo of Yeti if you spot him at next race

Amherst, 10 Mile NE Championship, USATF

36th Annual Jones Group Realtors 10 Mile Road Race, Amherst, MA, February 28, 2010

Several days before Amherst, my physical therapist gave reassurance that I likely would not reinjure my knee if I raced. 8 weeks of recovery is "character building"... got to enjoy snowshoeing & elliptical, but I missed running.

GTD's Professor Fernando told me without reservation that 10 miles would be no problem, despite hardly running for 8 weeks... so I popped some Advil, wrapped my knee, hid behind incognito sunglasses (bet you can't find me) and asked my body to remember what to do. It did.

My finish time didn't make any sense, I expected something much slower. Professor Fernando explained, "like we always talk, fitness ( especially aerobic ) stays in the system for a long time when someone is as consistent as you have been. In addition, you have been cross training." He complimented me and added "the other side of the coin is that you may be quite sore the next few days." True. Quads did feel a bit sore, but nothing like after some mountain races. I'd certainly take it. Knee? No worse. Smiling, fortunate Goatie? Blissfully so.

MY RESULTS, TIME:

1:16:21, 7:38 pace