Official Results...

It looks like I miscalculated that finishing time by just a couple of minutes, which bothers me not at all, readers--it still brings me in under my projected time of 2:15:00 by quite a bit.

And that official finish time? According to the timing chip embedded on my bib it was:

2:07:17!

Hurrah! Now for some sweet statistics:

* Out of the 15,000 people who registered to participate in both races (full & mini marathons), 10,738 finished the mini marathon
* Out of the 10,738 who finished, I came in 3,409th
* 4,655 men finished, 6,083 females finished
* Out of those 6,083 females, I came in 1,161th
* There were 1,073 females aged 30-34 who finished
* Out of those 1,073 I came in 236th

And there you have it! This wraps up our 2010 Ky Derby Festival Mini Marathon coverage, I hope you enjoyed it. & if you did, stay tuned: next year I'm considering the full marathon...26.2 miles!

The Results Are In...

Well, readers, all the angst and anticipation about the weather and whatnot was all for naught: what a fabulous morning for a long run! It sprinkled a bit, and then rained in earnest for the first 30 minutes or so, but then cleared right up. My unofficial time (I guess they'll send me my "official" time in the mail) for the mini marathon--13.1 miles--was 2 hours and 5 minutes...actually way better than my projected 2 hrs and 15 minutes. What can I say? I felt great and it all went off without so much as a side stitch or a blister--the remnants of my sinus infection didn't bother me and I was able to just get in "the zone" and enjoy myself. It was pretty fantastic running through Churchill Downs: they had some horses out doing exercises and the PA system was pumping out old turn-by-turn broadcasts of races. Can't wait to do it again!

And what sort of playlist got me through my two hours of racing excitement? Well, it's a pretty good one, so I should definitely list it, just for you, reader:

1. The Trio (main title from The Good, The Bad and the Ugly): Ennio Morricone
2. Down on the Street: The Stooges
3. Through the Fire: Larry Green
4. Danger Zone: Kenny Loggins
5. Cannonball: The Breeders
6. Rocky: United Artists Orchestra
7. Star Wars main theme: John Williams
8. The Imperial March: John Williams
9. Raiders of the Lost Ark main theme: John Williams
10. Carmina Burana: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
11. Principles of Lust: Enigma
12. The Ecstasy of Gold: Ennio Morricone
13. Olympic Fanfare and Theme: John Williams
14. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom main theme: John Williams
15. Superman main theme: John Williams
16. Pee Wee's Big Adventure main theme: Danny Elfman
17. Batman main theme: Danny Elfman
18. Extreme Ways: Moby
19. What Is Love?: Haddaway
20. Enjoy the Silence: Depeche Mode
21. Lonely Highway: the Magnetic Fields
22. Learning to Fly: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
23. Runnin' Down a Dream: Tom Petty
24. I Won't Back Down: Tom Petty
25. Come as You Are: Nirvana
26. Welcome to the Jungle: Guns N' Roses
27. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love: Van Halen
28. People of the Sun: Rage Against the Machine
29. Vietnow: Rage Against the Machine
30. Evil Operations Classified: The Casual Dots
31. G.F.S.: Slant 6
32. Dr. Seuss: Autoclave
33. Time Expired: Slant 6
34. Ace of Spades: Motorhead
35. (We are the) Road Crew: Motorhead
36. Cherub Rock: Smashing Pumpkins
37. Jane Says: Jane's Addiction
38. The Final Countdown: Europe

Oh boy: that's a lot of musical inspiration about taking things to the limit, trying real hard, time being an issue, adrenaline-laced stiff-lipped badass-ary and orchestral gravitas--perfect for all our distance running endeavors! And strangely enough, the transitions were smoother than you think. Hurrah for me!

KY Derby Festival Minimarathon Tomorrow

Yikes, readers: tomorrow's the big race! in just 16 hours I'll be lining up on 3rd street near Southside Drive in anticipation of my very first half marathon! Feeling some jitters, but having no doubts about being ready. The best thing about this being my first race is that there is no pressure to top myself: no matter what, tomorrow will be a personal best so I can pretty much just relax and enjoy it. I'm thinking about it in terms of just going out for a nice long run--with 14,999 other people(!)

The only thing I am worried about is the weather: 80% chance of thunderstorms! Like, with thunder and lightning. Huh. That really puts a damper on things. So I guess I'll have to put my iPod in a ziplock (running for 2+ hours with no music is NOT an option), and my visual situation looks grim as I can imagine my glasses fogging up and being useless, not to mention wet socks, giant puddles and being generally soaked through. This and I'm still not 100% over a sinus infection that was in full force last week...

But whatever, readers: I've been training for this thing for 8 months, so I'm game for some bad weather. And the fact that I'll be rained upon will simply up the badass factor and bragging rights I'll get, so I guess it will be fine.

And check out my outfit for the occasion:

* New-ish Mizuno Wave Rider running shoes (with neutral cushioning);
* my favorite cushy black socks;
* my crazy 3/4 length CW-X Stabylx running tights;
* plain old Target brand polyester/cotton blend shirt;
* Camelbak utility belt with water bottle holster (don't call it a fannypack!);
* 3 pouches of GU Chocolate Outrage energy gels;
* merino wool/acrylic blend arm warmers;
* eye glass keeper-on-ers;
* Brooks running cap;
* Mini Marathon number bib with microchip embedded to record time (I think it's like an RFID tag), #13547D

Stay tuned for more!

Mini Marathon in 5 Days...!

Readers, it's the 5 day count down to the start of my very first half marathon event: the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon!

It's kind of weird, if just for the fact that I really never participate in derby-related goings-on (well, besides the usual backyard BBQ and mint julep extravaganza--but that doesn't really count as "officially sanctioned derby events"...). The thing to remember about living in Louisville, Ky is that the derby is a city-wide excuse to start drinking at 11am (or earlier, in many cases...& we do mean "many cases"...har har), even the local schools let the kids out for a long weekend (my workplace will be closed, as will many many others). The actual race is really besides the point--although they do start running more stories about horses in the sports section around this time of year--people generally just want a reason to buy a funny hat and get shit-faced for a couple weeks (the festivities start with Thunder over L'Ville--which was yesterday--and culminate with the race on the first Saturday in May). And I guess I can't really argue with that.

Anyway--I started running again (after a, um, 13 year hiatus) this past September (did it have something to do with my 30th birthday, I wonder? hmmm...) and decided to run the race back in November. I've averaged 20 or so miles a week after finally getting back into shape, and I've done lots of long runs close to the 13.1 miles I'll have to cover this Saturday, so it should be no problem. I'm feelin' strong, readers! I even watched part of G.I. Jane on tv this afternoon (say what u want about Mrs. Kutcher, but those one-armed push ups were pretty badass). I've also read a lot of books and pestered a lot of other, more seasoned runners & I think I can pretty much do this thing...

But holee molee: the race sold out a few weeks ago, and that means I'll be running along with around 15,000 other people! That giant crush of humanity is going to be titanic! In fact, it's being touted as a record: the biggest single road race in Kentucky history (in past years they capped off registration at 12,000). Oh, boy! This will be a jittery week, for sure.

Case Study: Derby Glasses

In the city (Louisville, KY), every respectful nest-building hipster (and everyone else, really) owns at least one commemorative Kentucky Derby souvenier glass. Although they are ever present in the cupboards and cabinets of just about every Kentuckianian (that's KY + Indiana + "ian," a term used for anyone living in or within driving distance of Louisville), they tend to have two different groups of enthusiasts: The afore-mentioned nesting hipsters, and the people who I would call "collectors."

The hipster types can really get behind the regional flavor of the Derby glass' particular brand of kitsch. Their devotion may seem, on the surface, to be reminiscent of the typical hipster pseudo-clever irony (usually laced with the requisite whimsical retro referencing and inclusion of things of the "so uncool its cool" persuasion). You could infer that this group likes Derby glasses in the same way that most young people claim to "like" things these days: the way anyone "likes" Sammy Hagar or the original Battlestar Galactica or Chuck Norris (clue-in: NO ONE really likes those things in a genuine way). But, surprisingly, you'll find a refreshing authenticity behind the hipster affinity for them, a sense of insider privilege and a genuine pride for one's hometown: embodied by collectible tumblers. And they look especially handsome when filled with ice and bourbon.

As for the collectors, I witness no real joy or pride in their reasoning. These are the sort that gather at the big flea markets around town, sometimes renting booths and charging large quantities of cash for things like dirty silverware, busted furniture, "antiques" and various brick-a-brack gotten on the cheap from estate sales. They usually subscribe to the more humorless end of the "gotta catch 'em all" spectrum. For them its all business, and these sorts are the jerks who show up, pre-dawn, in December at the local Toys R Us to buy the entire shipment of Tickle Me Elmos, ruthlessly crushing all unfortunate souls between themselves and the palette full of Christmas Ebay gold. These obsessive nutjobs have multiples from every year they ever made Derby glasses, and by the way, they "know what they're worth" and want top dollar, Jackson! I mention them to acknowledge the darker side of the Derby glass, a counterpoint to the sunny side of hipster love. A collecter would never use a Derby glass for its original intention (holding a beverage), whereas the hipster set generally has Derby glasses in their dish rotation, holding drinks right there on their counter tops next to thrift store coffee mugs and Target wine glasses.

Shockingly, I own only the three Derby glasses pictured above: #'s 131 (2005), 132 (2006) & 135 (2009). They represent the 3 occassions I have ever actually been to Churchill Downs, although never actually ON Derby day (a local holiday in which business shuts down, schools are let out, and everyone's drunk by 2pm). For an extra 6 bucks or so you can purchase a drink at the track in the year's official glass, which is exactly what I always do (otherwise, I would probably have no idea I was actually AT Churchill in 2005, my memory being not so hot for dates).

Owning a Derby glass is one mark of being a local (for better or worse), and a fun way to mark the passing of time. It's the yardstick of local pride, the perfect vessel for bourbon-related bartending experimentation, and a little bit of class in a kitschy little glass, my friends.