The South's Toughest 15k

I am still recovering from the "little" 15k race I did yesterday. There were a few rolling hills in it. Actually, they were more like rolling mountains, but what can you expect from a race that claims to be the "South's Toughest 15k" and the route is almost entirely in a city south of downtown Birmingham called Mountain Brook.

The race course is a point to point race starting near Vulcan Park and the Vulcan statue and ending near Liberty Park and Birmingham's own version of the Statue of Liberty. My running partner, L and I got to the race start early to meet another friend M and to pick up our race packets. There was a blue and yellow ribbon in all the race packets to wear in support of Boston and the bombing that took place during the Boston Marathon. Also, $1 of all the race entries is being donated to help the victims of the bombing. I think the Red Cross was there to take blood, but I'm not sure and I needed my blood after running those hills so, like I said, I'm really not sure if they were there or not. I didn't look for the blood mobile. I'm kind of a chicken that way!

Image from mRuns.com

Image from mRuns.com

Image from mRuns.com

Images from mRuns.com

The morning started out an usually chilly 40 degrees F, but quickly warmed up and turned out to be a beautiful day. I haven't run this race in about 8 years or more and really didn't remember it being so hilly and tough. The biggest hill is around mile 7 and it was steeper than I remember and I walked more of it this time than I remember doing the past times I've run this race, but that's okay because I'm much older too! I also may have a mental block on the hills.

My goal time was under 1 hour 20 minutes and I made it in 1:19:33 so I was very happy with that time even though it put me fourth in my age group. Since the third place winner did right at 1 hour and 11 minutes, I didn't feel too bad. There are just some freaking fast 45 - 49 year old women here in Birmingham! And it is a tough race! 

I probably won't be living in Birmingham next year to do this race, but I am so glad I got to do it this year before I leave and for those of you who live in Birmingham, I highly recommend it. You will appreciate the pain! I promise! It will make you mentally tough or maybe just mental! Anyway, today my quads are a tiny bit sore and I'm walking around kind of funny, but by tomorrow I'm sure I'll be good as new.

This was my fourth weekend race in a row and I'm not sure what I'll be doing next weekend since I have nothing on the schedule for once. Might be a good weekend to get a long bike ride in or there is a triathlon about an hour away from Birmingham that I could do. We'll see!

Image from David Christy Photography

Image from David Christy Photography

The real statues that the race is named after...

Image from Wikipedia.com

Image from birminghamrealestate.com

Vulcan Run

Tomorrow is the annual Vulcan Run here in Birmingham, Alabama.  It is a very popular 10K race in the downtown area that has been going on since 1975.  Since I am tapering for a marathon next weekend and I haven't been doing any speed work lately,  I am probably not going to race.  As always it did cross my mind.  I use to do it every year back in the day and even won some hardware.

As you can see it has been a long time since I've done this race!  Where did the years go?

My favorite awards are the little, miniature Vulcan statue ones.  Cute!  I wonder if they still give them out to the age group winners?

Here's the real 56 foot tall Vulcan statue that sits atop Red Mountain and looks over downtown Birmingham.  It is the largest cast iron statue in the world and a favorite place to go on field trips when I was in first grade.  He is a the Roman God of iron and forge and a symbol of Birmingham.

Even our local triathlon club is called Vulcan Triathletes, named after you know who.

A few years ago I bought this Christmas ornament from the gift shop at Vulcan park.  It hasn't been on a Christmas tree yet because I hung it on the window and forget about it every year.  Maybe this year it will make it to the Christmas tree.

One race I have always wanted to do, but haven't been able to get into is the New York marathon.  I hear they canceled it this year due to Hurricane Sandy.  I think that was the right thing to do especially since the start of the race is in hard hit Staten Island.   I just couldn't imagine running a marathon while there is still all that devastation in the area.  So sad!