Getting ready for race number 30
Interview with Christine Kennedy today
Thursday, July 19th, 2012
Been running and walking easy all week. Have gotten in 23 miles so far. Ran 11 miles on Tuesday. My back is a little tight but not bad. Everything is holding up well. Going to run Wharf to Wharf this weekend in Santa Cruz. This six mile race is celebrating 40 years. I am hoping to get under 41 minutes. I am 13:19 under averaging 7 minute/mile pace for 189 miles and it would be good to be over 14 minutes with 20 races to go. Have some tough races coming up and I need a cushion. Falmouth August 12 could be hot says Christine Kennedy. And the race director for the Kauai Half Marathon Sept 3 called earlier in the week and told me the first seven miles of his race is uphill. He says it might cost me four to five minutes. Can't let that happen...
We interviewed Christine Kennedy tonight at her running shoe store (Athletic Performance) in Los Gatos for the movie. She is an amazing runner. At 57-year-old she ran 1:25:10 at the Napa to Sonoma half marathon at Sunday. From what I can find on the internet, this might be the fastest time ever run by a 57-year-old woman in the world. Yes, in the world EVER. Earlier in the year she ran just over three hours in Boston in the heat. I like the way she thinks, she does not step to the starting line thinking that she is competing against other 50-year-olds. She is thinking about being the top master...40 plus. She works out on the track twice per week. I have known Christine for several years and we are excited about featuring her in "A Long Run." Her goal for the Chicago Marathon Oct 7...2:52. Right before the start of the Napa to Sonoma Half. Christine at the finish of this year's Boston Marathon. She ran 3:00:42 in the heat. From what we can find on the internet, this is the best time for 57 plus in the world ever. Rae Baymiller ran 2:52:14 at age 55 October 1988 in Chicago. This is the time Christine want to beat. (With Chris is Terry McCluskey who ran just over 60 minutes for 10 miles at age 63 this year. He ran 3:30 in Boston...he did not handle the heat well. Earlier in the day I got a package from Kansas City. I had already received a medal for finishing the Rock the Parkway half marathon. Then I got a bigger medal for finishing first in my 60-64 age group. And today I got a trophy for being the first 60 plus runner. I guess I am a "Senior Grand Master." Thanks KC Running. You guys are all class. As I get ready for my next 21 races for the year, I am wanting to continue to do the things I think is making this all work. One simple thing I am doing. I eat half a banana every morning and then the other half before lunch. I used to not eat anything for breakfast. Seems to be working... TJ Nelson from the Napa to Sonoma race group sent along some more photos from the Napa to Sonoma Half July 15. I ran 1:32:12 and was first 60 plus and 4th 50 plus. It is a beautiful course! Thanks TJ...
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Not sure how I pulled this one off
Race Number 29 - 1:32:12 half marathon
Sunday, July 15th, 2012
This race was really a concern because of the situations I have had the last two weeks. I love the race and this was the third year in a row that I have run it. There are some hills in the first few miles including a tough quarter mile hill right after the start. For many, these hills really are not that big of a deal but for me it does slow me down. I like to go out fast and today I hit the first mile at 7:04 which is at least 25 seconds slower than normal. But more importantly, on Wednesday I could not even run a quarter of a mile and even through by Thursday I did do six miles at 8:41 pace I was beginning to think that 1:35 would be the best I could do. The night before Michael wanted to capture some footage about the situations I had been having getting ready for this half. We both decided that the only way I was going to be able to run well was to use the Pre method...run my guts out. That was the plan. I would be happy with 1:35 but my goal was to get under 1:33. However, I was really concerned. I like going into a race knowing I am ready. I just was not ready... But when the gun went off my legs felt good. I was ready to race. I went out hard but then got passed by 50 people on the quarter mile hill right after the start. I met Kathie Mcquire at a race last October. We have seen each other several times at races and in fact she is being featured in our film. She was about 120 yards ahead of me at some points but by the 7.5 mile mark (photo) I was just 60 yards behind. She told me at the starting line that she was hoping to run 1:30. I kept her in sight for 11.5 miles before I caught her. Here are my splits: 7:04, 6:39, 6:50, 7:00, 6:49, 7:04, 7:07, 6:59, 7:24 (not sure what happened here), 7:02, 7:09, 7:05, 7:07. Photo at the 7.5 mile mark with Katie just ahead. My legs felt strong the whole distance. I was 69:58 at 10 miles. I did my last three miles faster than normal. Maybe the two weeks of "rest" helped? My official chip time was 1:32:12. It was great to see Catherine at the 7.5 mile mark and Michael (shooting video) at the 10 mile mark. Then to also see Mary Etta Boitano Blanchard at the 8.5 mile mark. All of this along with having Katie right ahead of me and Christine and Verity out front helped me today. Plus I did have my perfect pre race dinner the night before. At the finish with Katie just behind. I told Katie that I focused on her butt the whole way. I could see her ahead of me for 11.5 miles. Seriously, I knew she was trying to run 1:30 and by keeping her in my sights it really helped. She has been injured and this was her first race in six months. She ran well and won her age division. The day before race director Matt went over the course with me. I had run this the last two years but it was nice to get a good review. I also feel that Matt's and crew warm welcome helped me get focused. I have been first in my age-group 19 of the 29 races I have run so far this year. I hope to add more. After the race we interviewed Mary Etta for our film. She started running at age 4.5 and held many world records. She ran the Bay to Breakers before women were even allowed to run that distance. Can you believe when I started Distance Running News (1966) women were not allowed to run more than a half mile. She has a great story and at age 49 she loves running just as much as ever. She has always been out at the 8.5 mile mark on this course to yell out words of encouragement to me the last three years. Thanks Mary, you are such an inspiration!!! Mary had a lot to say and we captured it all on film. I won a bottle of wine, got a nice medal and a box of chocolate. This is a fun event and I will be back. Tesfaye Alemayehu was the overall winner. He ran 1:02:37 which is a course records. Amazing time...an amazing runner! Very nice too! 57-year-old Christine Kennedy turned in one of the best performances of the day. She ran 1:25:10 which is 95.85% age-graded. She is being featured in our film and will be sharing her training secrets with us. One quick shot with Verity and Lisa (who works closely with Matt on the race) and we were out of there. On the way home stopped by a hamburger joint and wow that tasted so good...
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