Blueberry Blast 10 K

A few weeks ago there was a 10k race in nearby Harbour Grace. I decided last minute to go for it. I figured that since my only other race experience was 10 miles, a 10 kilometer run should be a peice of cake. So confident was I that I decided to stay out late with some friends the night before. In fact, I had exactly two hours to sleep before I had to get in the car and drive the 1.5 hr drive to the start line. Part of me was actually pretty curious as to how I'd feel running on no sleep. It was a test.

There were 100 some people running. A small run with little fuss. I thought it was just a nice way to spend a Sunday morning. I took my Holga, but only a few shots left on the roll. (In my early morning haste I had forgot the extra film. I remembered running shoes though, that was a close one!)

So I set off and after a few K's I was feeling ok, not great. A few more k's and I was feeling no better. I was just enduring this event, that was all I could muster. Only one water stop and I took a 10 second walk break to drink. A few more k's and I'm thinking *please let there be another water table*. Not because I was thirsty, no. I was dying to stop and walk for another 10 seconds. Alas it was becoming obvious that there were no more tables and I was just going to have to run the rest and shut down my complaining mind. I saw the 8k mark and I decided to turn off my music and just run it as fast as I could. I was operating under the premise that the faster I get to the finish line the faster I could FINISH! I was very miserable. I thought for sure I was going to barf. I couldn't even sniff the snot from dripping down my face because it made me gag. Eventually I came within sight of the finish line and - wow I was so surprised to see my time! It was really great (for ME people, for ME). I got a great rush from seeing that clock.

Inside the arena where the food and such was spread out I managed to find a chair and sat. I was still feeling like I was going to barf. I amnaged to eat some of the delicious blueberry goodies that were available. It was a nice reception and I know that despite my bad physical feeling that I was enjoying this experience.

I drank coffee but I was exhausted and driving the 1.5 hours back home was rough. I listened to Cage the Elephant on bust (aside - that is a great album) and sang along with it to force myself into alertness.

Seriously - this song kept me on the road. I know it by heart now, lol. I wonder if any other drivers thought I was yelling at them? LOud as you can - *you're a no good, lazy motherfucker . . . "

Lesson? Sleep is important. Very important.

Only two lonely photos. One is the faster runners coming back from the turn . . .



And a very Newfoundland-ish sign.

How to carry the Holga?

It was asked *How does one carry the Holga while running?*

This is a question with many answers. I'm certain the gang of us Holga Runners are using different techniques. As with most answers . . mine is the best.

I use an old disc man waist pack. It is meant for using during exercise (check), is lightweight (check), adjustable (check) and fits one Holga camera. (Check Check Check!)

I just googled images and there are some ugly disc man waist packs out there! Mine is all black and not ugly at all. In my case I actually have one from the years using a disc man (actually my husband used to use it at the gym - like 15 years ago!). If one was not such a pack rat and does not still have one - I'm sure they can be found at thrift shops around the world. Eventually I realized the problem of needing to carry water and a Holga. So I have gotten into the habit of carrying a water bottle in my hand. Or I plan things to take one or the other. Whatever works.

Here is a photo from the other day. I know this is a sign for the Surveyor crew up ahead on the road . . but I'm going to pretend it's another Holga runner . . . using a tripod.

Quidi Vidi Birds

I use Quidi Vidi Lake to run at least once a week. I used to drive there and run it. Now I run there and run it and run home. But I digress. ;)

Quidi Vidi is popular with boaters and runners and walkers and . . . birds. Ducks, pigeons, seagulls, and a lone goose. When running past the Dominion side of the lake the birds can be pretty plentiful. They are not shy. It would not be a good place to run if you were afraid of birds. Luckily for me I am not afraid of birds.

Usually I (and everyone) will run around the birds. A wide swerve does the trick. This day though I decided to have some fun running through the birds and taking pictures. They barely move, they are so annoyed at being bothered. I ran through them, back and forth, a couple of times and then stopped to compose a shot of that goose. He (she?) was watching the show and I'm fairly certain was concluding that I am a nutbar.

This is what we call Good Clean Fun.







Duck. Duck. Goose.

Butterpot Hill

During a camping trip I ran a great run to the top of Butterpot Hill. I loved it so much I did it again the next day. Unfortunately the Holga I had with me was acting up and I only have this to share. But see - what a beatutiful run. 5 miles. Love it.

The bad holga has since been discarded. I have no patience for bad holgas. Disposable cameras. ;)

Was there a pony on the beach?

I went on vacation a few weeks ago and did something I usually don't do -- I went running. In the past, even a little walk would have been pushing it.

I found that I really needed to get out early in the morning to clear my head, even on vacation, and the c25k program has been quite motivating. It was also fun to have a change of scenery, although running on the sand is tough.

One morning, on my way back to the beach house, I ran into my two older kids who were out with my friend searching for shells. As we were combing the beach, my eight-year-old daughter excitedly pointed out what she thought were tiny horse shoe prints in the sand. She asked, "Do you think there was a pony down here on the beach?"

I thought for a moment, then looked at the bottom of my shoes. It was just me who had been galloping around. I suppose I'm not as exciting as a pony, but who is?

If At First You Don't Succeed...

Donna, you're a tough act to follow. I've got failure after failure to lay in your 10K wake. Here we go.

This roll was shot on the last run with my old, squeaky, beat-up shoes. Actually, they were hand-me-down marathon shoes from my mom years ago. Older than old. (Ummm, the shoes, not my mom.) After running for a few weeks, I began having pain in my lower leg--not traditional shin splints, but what I discovered were posterior shin splints. These here internets told me that I was probably an "overpronater" running in old, unsupportive shoes. The pain got worse and worse until I couldn't ignore it anymore. It hurt all day long, and made it impossible for me to run.

Which TOTALLY sucked, because I had just run my first 4 miles in years, and as long as I ignored the leg pain, was feeling great. I decided to rest for a good week, and to pony up the dough for a new pair of running shoes. Really, it was one of those moments when I had to actively choose whether I wanted to just quit this thing, or if I was going to invest the energy (and the one-hundred-freaking-forty dollars) to make it work.

I found a pair of Saucony Progrid Hurricanes that were exactly what my feet needed. Plus, the kids at the shoe store introduced me to www.pandora.com, which was a bonus.
So, this roll is horribly overdeveloped. I semi-salvaged a few on photoshop, but just barely. The one above (tire marks) and the one below (queen anne's lace) were taken on a long, hilly country road near my house.

And this next one is an accidental double exposure. Funny that I rotated the camera on one but not the other for a square image... The first snap was of a forest at the end of my street, and a "One Way" sign in the center. I stood in the middle of the street, with my iPod blaring, to get this shot. I did not, of course, see or hear the speeding pick-up truck until it swerved to miss me. Oops.

I was frazzled and y'know, thanking my lucky stars, so I forgot to wind the camera before taking this shot of my shadow. I love how the "One Way" sign goes right through my center.

On the way back, I waved enthusiatically to some stranger I thought was a friend and hawked a loogie into my iPod wires. I really am that cool.

~Terri

Bell Island Blast 10 miler

Sunday past I did the Bell Island Blast . . . a tough 10 mile race on Bell Island . . . which is hills. All hills. Actually, never ending hills. It seemed to me that there were some road/geography things at play which made it mostly uphills. Either way I spent the better part of the race wondering why we couldn't do the race from end to start. Seems like it would have been much easier!!

It was the inaugural race. That was fun. It didn't take me long to look around at the ferry line up and realize that inaugural race meant that most of these people are fast. The running crowd. Much more experienced than I was. A fellow runner took this picture of me in the line up. He told me to put on my war face.



It was a few hours before hurricane Bill, so humidity was through the roof. That was worrisome. None the less once we were at the start line location I was feeling pretty good. I was hydrated and fed and had new tunes on my mp3 player. After watching the faster runner warm up I never saw them again until the reception. I lined up at the end of the pack which is where I knew I'd finish. This picture was about 5 seconds after the gun. I was full on running, which means a blurry picture!



About 1/4 mile in we hit the first hill. I remember thinking that it wasn't so bad. Then we hit another hill that was much worse. it was at about mile 2 when I thought this may be much more difficult than I thought. It was just past a big hill when we turned a corner and saw another, even bigger hill. Now the holga and it's wide angle lens is not the best for capturing this type of thing. You'll just have to trust me that there were a lot of groans by a lot of folks right about here. You'll also notice that the pack is really spreading out now.



It was at that point where I realized that I was sweating like a pig and to get through this race I'd need to just run. Concentrate. Forget the camera. Save the camera for a flat course or save it for next year when I have more experience running. Something. Anything.

So I kept running. Soon the sun came out and made the hot humidity even hotter. The hills kept coming. I kept going. Eventually I came to the finish line, which was of course at the top of a hill. I was 101/102, and I don't feel bad about that because I was just at the end, not far back, from the pack. It was a tough tough course. I was comforted by the fact that the after race chatter seemed to indicate that everyone thought it was tough, even the experienced ones. They mostly added about 15 or so minutes from the 10 mile race a month ago that was an easy course. I only added 3 minutes. This means that all my hard work and hill training is paying off. I"m still slow, but I'm stronger than I was and that is good.

Here is a photo from their website. It's me coming into the finish.



A few last frames. First is the dock from the ferry.



And last but not least . . we were treated to show of dolphins in the bay on the way back! Literally hundreds. It was pretty cool!!



SO all in all . . . it was a great experience. I have decided to do another race in three weeks. This time a flat 10K. It should seem like a breeze so that I can take many many pictures next time!!