A 5K and a long run

This morning we ran the JCC Labor Day 5K.  The sign up for this race is part of the Senior Olympics.  Any one in any age group can sign up for the race.  It was hot, humid and hilly.  My time was not great but it was good enough for first place in my age group.  Jim nabbed second place in his age group.

My training plan had 12 miles for today.  I came home, filled my hydration bladder, changed into dry clothes and went to the trails to add some miles.  Jim was not interested in a long run.   I started at Sherman Beach and ran the dirt trail loop first.  Within 5 minutes my dry clothes were soaked.  I don't know why I bothered with changing.  My plan was to walk/run so I didn't die of heat stroke.

I passed a group of bicyclers that asked if the trail led to roads.  I told them that the direction they were heading they would run into Sherman Beach that took them to St. Paul Road.  Then I asked where they started.  They had started at Castlewood.  It took a while to convince them that they should go back to Castlewood they way they came - on the trail.  They had a hair-brained idea that they should take the roads back.

Next I passed a guy on an electric unicycle.  I had to stop and ask him about it.  It had foot rests you stood on with no pedals.  It was motor driven.  It looked dangerous to me especially on trails.  He had knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards but no helmet.  He said he had to order a new helmet.  I wonder what happened to his old one.  It did not look like good exercise.

Then the emergency sirens went off.  I was wondering if severe weather was headed this way but then realized it's the Monday morning testing.

After I got back to Sherman Beach I refilled my water and headed toward the Rock Hollow Trail.  The MO Cowbell has it's only hill at the end of the race so I wanted to do a hill on tired legs.  On the trail I saw our friend Chris that we know from trail runs.  He did not do the runs this year because he had a hip replacement in March.  He was riding a bike and said that he will be back to running soon.  He just needs to strengthen.  I was impressed with how well he is doing and that he will be running after hip replacement.

Then I saw some neighbors on their bikes.  I ended up doing 10 miles on the trails.  I warmed up a half mile before race so my total for the day was about 13.6.  When I finished it was 90 degrees with a heat index of 95.