So the full results are in for Sunday’s Jingle Bell Run, and I finished in the top third of my age group, coming in 70th out of 240 in the male 30-39 division.  I’m very pleased with that placing.  I felt worse than I actually performed; my hamstrings were sore and tight before and during the run, and in fact all day yesterday.  Today is a different story; I feel great and am not at all sore.  In fact, I was able to get to the gym this afternoon for a fairly intense weight workout.

All this focus on fitness and exercise is just a net good thing.  There’s nothing bad about it.  I’m feeling great physically, and although my diet has lapsed a bit in the days since my 100-day workout challenge, I know that it’s a temporary thing and that I can take the next step in my personal fitness goals whenever I decide to set my mind on it.

I’ll leave you with two words: adventure racing.

12,000 of my closest friends and I got out in the freezing Seattle weather this morning to participate in the 25th annual Jingle Bell Run in Seattle.  This is a kind of anti-race: the joy is in the participation, in the costumes, in the shared community spirit, not necessarily how high you finish.

Having said that, I did really well, ha ha ha!  I beat my previous 5K PR by over a minute, coming in at 26:01, or an 8:31/mile pace.  Pretty good considering I woke up with really sore hamstrings and ran the whole way with reindeer antlers.   I think that I can definitely get down to a 7:00/mile pace by mid-to-late spring, if I keep exercising and eating right.   Good things happen to good people, right?  And I’m DEFINITELY due for some good things to happen.

To the lady in the port-a-potty who forgot to slide the latch shut so that the label still read “OPEN – I’m really sorry.  It’s just that I was one of hundreds of people standing around, looking excitedly for the green “OPEN” labels, and I really didn’t mean to *cough* expose you to the world.  I hope the fright made you run a bit faster.  Next time I’ll knock first.

Best costume?  Hm.  There were quite a few Cindy Lou Who lookalikes, but my favorites may have been the two Santa’s elves who were taking pictures on the top floor of Westlake Center.  You two looked like you were having the time of your life, and your costumes were fantastic!

Full Jingle Bell Run race results here, for those of you interested.

I just signed up for next month’s Jingle Bell Run.  Perhaps I’m still on a high from this morning’s Seattle Marathon 5K, but I’m eagerly looking forward to this next race.  Registration was $30.00.  For that fee I get a chip-timed race result, a T-shirt, and all the free goodies I can ask for at the post-race vendor tables.

I don’t know anyone with arthritis (I think), and am not particularly adept at fundraising, so I signed up as an individual vs. as part of a team that commits to raising funds.  I suppose part of me wishes I were the type of person that could go out and enthusiastically buttonhole everyone I know to contribute money for a worthy cause, but that’s just not me.  On the other hand, I’ve seen a lot of changes in myself over the last couple years, so next year, who knows…

An interesting tidbit about the registration process.  I didn’t even know where, or how far, the race was until after the fact.  I found out by clicking on “Event Details” that it’s a 5K, and it starts somewhere near Westlake Center on Sunday the 13th.  Looking further, I found a PDF-format course map that shows that the race starts at 5th and Pine and ends “approximately 6.9 meters from [the] lamp post on [the] corner” of 6th and Pine.  Interesting.

Training?  Well, based on today’s result I’ll be doing a lot more speed work – intervals, mostly.  I need to get more comfortable running fast, because my base endurance is good enough for a race of this length.  I’ll probably try to get outdoors as well, because running on the pavement is way different (and more difficult) than running on the treadmill at the gym.

So, what are you waiting for?  Sign up and join me for the race!