This will be the most succinct race recap I’ve ever written, because while I carved out time to run the Jingle All the Way 15K I am still dashing through December. But I can’t let this race go unreported because a funny thing happened on the way to the finish line.
I wore my holiday sweater running top for the occaision.
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Finish Line Of The Jingle All The Way 15K
The most stressful aspect of the Jingle All The Way 15K was getting to the running store in downtown D.C. to get my bib. Driving through crosstown traffic and parallel parking in the city are not my favorite things to do on a Saturday morning. I made it up to myself by taking the opportunity to get new runnings shoes—using a $10 credit (my chosen race bling) and $20 birthday coupon.
The race started at 8:30 Sunday morning, and I headed out @ 7:30. Parking was easy, and I stayed in my warm, dry car until about 8:10–something I’d only do for such a small race. How small was the race? The indoor bathrooms right by the starting area had no line! That will earn a 5 star review every time. 🙂
One fun thing about this race is how many people dress up in festive outfits.
I loved this guys Grinch gloves!
As you can imagine, there were a lot of Santas.
Another reason for this short recap is my technical fail. I started my Garmin in “treadmill” mode, which screwed up the pacing so my split times are meaningless. (It was about 1/4 mile off each mile.) Once I realized the snafu, I knew I had to just run by feel.
The dreaded Hains Point.
I tried to run a hard but sustainable pace, but this is where the funny thing comes in. My left hip flexor was not cranky at all! It was totally quiet! Yay! 🙂 …. But the plantar fascitis in my right foot that came out of nowhere on Saturday was a constant drumbeat with every step. 🙁 By the end of the race, my right hip was jacked up. Argh! Does it ever end?
When I crossed the finish line at 1:24:xx I had no idea what that meant for my pace. I had to wait until the results were up to see that I averaged the exact tempo pace I had been using for the Matt Wilpers training program. How cool is that?
I went right from the race to my office gym, to get ready for my meeting.
Yes, I did wear my medal!
Weekly Wrap
Here’s how the rest of my week went down. I had an early meeting at work on Monday and an overnight trip to Boston Wednesday/Thursday. Saturday was my annual Christmas cookie bake-a-thon and Sunday is the one and only day I’m going Christmas shopping in local shops. Ho, ho ho!
Monday: 30 min strength + 30 min Peloton ride
I decided to workout at the office gym, and chose Hannah’s Festive Ride from December 2020. Like her recent holiday run, it’s programmed with a “holiday office party” theme rather than holiday music. It was a fun playlist, but my legs were tired!
Loved seeing Hannah as one of “my” instructors!
Tuesday: CorePower Yoga
Wednesday: 10 min Core + 15 min Flash 15 + 10 min Arms + Shoulders
I kept my alarm set at 4:40 (from Tuesday’s 6 am yoga class) so I would have time for a short workout before heading to the airport for my 8:00 am flight. I ended up walking nearly a mile at the airport because I haven’t figured out where to park with the new security configuration.
Got to the gate with 10 min to spare!
Thursday: 30 min HIIT + Hills Treadmill Run
I was going to do a strength workout, but the hotel gym was so busy I was afraid if I didn’t snag a treadmill when one was open, I would miss my chance. By the time I finished my run the gym was nearly empty, but I was getting anxious about my meeting and decided to end my workout so I would have more time to prepare. (It was time well spent, and my meeting went well.)
Friday: 30 min Strength + 3.5 Scooby Miles
I knew I wouldn’t have time to run over the weekend, so I took Scooby out for a short run on Friday. I sandwiched the run between a 20 min Full Body workout and a 10 min Arms + Light Weights workout.
Saturday: Rest Day (bake-a-thon)
I took Scooby for a walk, but the rest of my day was spent on my feet, making, baking and decorating cookies!
There were two more types I forgot to get a picture of!
Sunday: 10 min Core + 30 min FB Strength
Quick workout before going to church for the first time in December :-O
My right hip recovered from the race quickly, but my left hip is whispering to me again. The PF is improving—as long as I wear supportive shoes. All these aches and pains are encouraging me to take my “rest” days guilt-free and choose shorter/easier workouts without thinking I should be doing more. My main goal now is to start the new year injury-free.
A huge thank you to Deborah and Kim for hosting the Weekly Run Down link up.
Are you ready for the holidays?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Well, I was hoping you’d post a cookie picture- AND YOU DID! They all look delicious. What do you do with that many cookies? Do you give some as gifts? I’m doing some cookie baking today.
Great job on the race, but that is odd about the alternating hip flexor pain. And PF- no, no, no!!! I hope you’re able to nip it in the bud.
Good luck with your shopping today. I told my daughter I would take her shopping and now I’m questioning my sanity- shopping on the last Sunday before Christmas? Oh well… we can brave the crowds.
Yes, I will give a lot of cookies away!
Good luck shopping!
Oh, I’m sorry that your body has been talking to you. Great job running that race by feel — how cool is that?
I can’t believe all the traveling you’ve been doing lately!
The cookies look yummy. My mom is trying to foil my healthy efforts by sugaring me up (my brother, too!).
Rest is not a 4 letter word (well, you know what I mean).
Hah!
You ran a great race but I’m sorry the aches and pains presented themselves. Your bake-a-thon looks fabulous! Back in the day, before I had kids, I was the aunt who invited my sisters, nieces and nephews over to bake for the holidays. It was wonderful but it was also 30 pounds ago. Ha!
It is hard having all these cookies around — most get packaged up for giving or go straight into the freezer.
I’m so sorry to hear that you suddenly had PF act up during your race. Hopefully, it’s not still bothering you since you didn’t mention it when talking about your two runs later in the week.
Thanks. It doesn’t bother me when I run short distances, so I am sticking to that as well as doing all the other PF rehab things.
I look forward to seeing your bake-a-thon cookies every year! What a nice tradition 😉 My place of work is giving us Friday as a bonus PTO day this week, so I’m hoping to do some baking then (and probably more knitting because now the older daughter also wants a sweater, LOL).
You must be a fast knitter! I would need a year to make a sweater. 😉
I often skip certain races because of the location of packet pickup. I refuse to drive downtown to pick up a packet. Who has time for that? Some races have packet mailing and I’ll always opt for that. It’s well worth the $$. Sounds like a fun race! Sorry that your hip is acting up. I swear, it’s always something.
But there are always cookies! 🙂
I think this race had a mail option, but in years past you’ve been able to pick up the bib at other stores, and I didn’t realize they changed that. Next time!
That is a great race pace… sorry about the ache and pains. Hope they are short-lived. It did look like a fun race.
And those cookies….yum!!!!
Thanks so much!
I love that your pace was your Wilpers threshold pace nicely done. That happened for me at GW but now seems really far away again. Your cookies look great! One thing I have learned the past few years is that rest days don’t have to be earned and I never feel guilty about them. Hope your hips and feet are feeling better this week. Congrats on a great race!
Thanks. Things are getting cranky again but I hope my easier schedule nips them in the bud.
Well done on your 15k! You look so happy in that photo back in your office with the medal! I bet the Sunday meeting went well, too.
I have similar issues to you. I think my body isn’t aligned properly. I saw a fascia expert last week and again today… I hope it will help. I will let you know if it does!
I’ve been contemplating seeing a chiropractor. I know my hips are uneven because the figure 4 stretch is so different on each side. I’ve been putting off the researching and appointment making process.
How fun with all those Christmas outfits! Sorry to hear about your aches and pains though. Well done finishing the race and I’m glad to hear the hip pain was short-lived.
You know i love when people dress up for holiday races and I know want the Grinch gloves that the guy had, lol.
Sorry to hear about the foot pain during the run – that doesn’t sound fun at all 🙁 But great job on finishing the race and then heading straight into the office!
Great job nailing your Wilpers tempo pace in your race!
So sorry for all the aches – frustrating, isn’t it?! I hope everything quiets down and you can start 2023 pain-free.
Your cookies look so good! I would be in so much trouble having all of those within reach 😉
Oh, I hope you feel better!
That’ s a lot of cookies! I think I’m only making four kinds this year. If i can get it together.
Boo on the misbehaving lower body
I think you should have a rest day – with the cookies
FOund myself looking for my friend who ran in your pics since it was so small and you’re near ish one another in pace, but she wasn’t the red skirt. Way to go on nailing hte tempo!