Having run 5 previous 5K races with cool and overcast conditions, it took a bright and sunny day along with a fast, flat course to power Val to a new 5K PR of 21:15:9 which is 13 seconds faster than her PR set last year, July 4th, in Huntington Beach.
When I saw the men come in hot and fast and then Mary Akor, I knew Val would be on pace for breaking a personal record and she was strong in the finish.
Technorati Tags: Downtown Anaheim 5K, running, 5K, road racing
June 14th, 2008
Posted by
MarkFu |
Valerie |
no comments
Val’s 2008 racing season, this being her fifth race, have all been marked by cool, overcast conditions with little or no breeze and that suits her just fine since she “runs hot” anyway. This was another of her sub-7:00 minute/mile races which also keeps her time for this 5K (3.1 mile) distance at under 22:00. She bettered her time here last year by over 30 seconds. Here are some additional pictures of Val in the Corona del Mar 5K event. Keyword:CDM. Go here and you can find race video.
Two races in the next two weeks have Val racing in Anaheim, where she has a good chance to get a best time and on the sand in Manhattan Beach the following week.
Like the previous races, I am her “caddy”. By the way, besides being a golfing term, the American Heritage Dictionary in the #2. definition defines caddy as “A boy who does odd jobs.” Yep, that pretty well describes what I do!
These two ladies were no match for Val, but they competed in the 71-99 year old category. One of them came in at an impressive time of about 34 minutes.
Following the race, Val and I drove to the Fleet Feet store in Laguna Niguel where they had appearances by two members of the Newton Racing Team, Michellie Jones, Olympic silver medalist in the 2000 Games in Sydney and Ironman champion and Josh Cox, a US men’s marathoner who qualified for the men’s Olympic Marathon team in 2000 and was the youngest American to do so. Each gave a short but fascinating look into their careers and answered questions from those in attendance about training and the Newton shoes.
We had the opportunity to try out the revolutionary Newton running shoe, which is quite a bit different than any shoe in production today.
Val and 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist, Michellie Jones
Two Members of the Newton Racing Team and a Newton rep.
June 7th, 2008
Posted by
MarkFu |
Valerie |
2 comments
The day did not start out well. Between the two of us, Val and I got 6 hours of sleep and I got 80% more than she did! When the alarm went off, my strategy was that I would stay put unless she got up first. There would be no repeated wake up calls from me on this morning. There was a moment where we both looked at each and thought going back to bed would be the best choice.
When we went to open the garage, it jammed and I barely squeezed inside to disconnect the garage opener from the chain and noticed the broken spring on one of the doors. We got the car out and off we drove to Santa Monica on empty 405 and 10 freeways for the Santa Monica Classic, a 5 & 10K race to benefit “Heal the Bay” which I suppose sounds better than “Clean Up Your Crap Day”.
In spite of sleep deprivation, Val was ready to go and all her systems were “green light”.
The race had a simple course. It essentially was a long rectangular route that the race organizers managed to screw up at the turnaround point, which was, according to most accounts under-marked and unmanned. As I arrived at the finish line at 21:30 no one was yet crossing. Most of the runners made the turn considerably further up than they were supposed to, so their times were understandably slower. According to Val’s GPS-enabled heart rate monitor, her 3.1 mile race turned into a 3.81 miles instead. Some people apparently did turn at the right place and that infuriated Val and others who thought those runners were cheating!
No matter though, Val placed third in her age division, 100th overall, running 6:56 minute miles and felt strong throughout.
The weather was perfect for running…cool and overcast.
I got a mini workout in after the start. I had to run to the finish line in order to get there ahead of the runners. As it turned out, the longer distance they ended up traversing bought me some more time.
Nike was the primary sponsor of the Classic and all finishers got a free pair of $12 socks. (They are a left foot-right foot pair that some elite runner favor). Yeah, um, uh huh…$12 socks…One sock actually costs more than a Starbucks drink!! Another sponsor was a Swedish water company, Volvic, who probably has spent millions over the years marketing the purity and uniqueness of their water only to offer a badly-flavored water. Who thinks flavored water is really a good idea? Makes my head itch. Then, there is Caribou Coffee as a sponsor, but nowhere to be found before, during or after the race offering and marketing their product. At a race last year, Val got a coupon from Peet’s Coffee for a free bag of their product. Marketing works!
It was kind of an offbeat morning, one which you might expect if Venice Beach is involved, where we enjoyed a post-race breakfast at The Rose Cafe. After breakfast, we went to the famous and original Gold’s Gym, “The Mecca of Bodybuilding”, where we chatted with a trainer who specializes in coaching the Olympic lifts and kettlebells.
Val is back! She didn’t expect to place, but what was really encouraging was her sub-seven minute pace and no pain from her previous injury. Her road racing season is on! Here are some more pictures.
May 4th, 2008
Posted by
MarkFu |
Valerie |
4 comments
Not since the 2007 Dana Point Turkey Trot 5 months ago, has Val entered and run a road race due an aggravating and persistent groin injury. Today was her “coming out party” and she barely lost a step.
Everything about this event was relaxed and went without a hitch. Val had been diligently training at things other than running in the months preceding, so that when her body said it was ok to race, she would be ready to go.
And ready she was. Val’s expectations were low and was really thrilled to be in this race and wanted to have fun. The Hermosa Beach 5K is a low-key local affair-the perfect first race back, with much of the event run on the beach strand and onto the pier.
Val ran pain free and happy and that was reflected in a time only a minute off her PR for the distance. Not bad at all considering she has only gone for a few short road runs and two of them were with slowpoke named MarkFu!
Val reported some after race pain so we hit it up with Advil and we will find out soon enough if this race was a good idea. But for this day, it was. She did great and we both enjoyed the beautiful, cool sunny morning in Hermosa Beach.
April 20th, 2008
Posted by
MarkFu |
Valerie |
no comments
We got up early this morning, not to put a turkey in the oven but to get Val down to beautiful Dana Point for the annual Dana Point Turkey Trot 5 & 10K runs. On Valerie’s menu was the 10K event, which started at 7:00 AM which would get us home in time to watch the Green Bay Packers play beat the Detroit Lions for the first of three Turkey Day games.
(Go Pack)!
Val said it was a perfect day for a race with the temps in the mid-50’s and no wind. This race gets a great turnout every year and this year was no different with an estimated 10,000 runners and walkers for all the events.
Val’s official time, in her third 10K race was 46:22, which gave her an average pace of 7:28/mile. I asked Val which distance she like racing the best and she had no clear favorite, but did lean toward the 3.1 mile event over the 6.2. Whatever. She prepares and races well regardless of the distance and today was no exception.
November 22nd, 2007
Posted by
MarkFu |
Valerie |
no comments
It was a great day to race the 2007 Long Beach Marathon and everything fell into place nicely. (Well, at least for me…I didn’t run the race)! This year, we drove a different way to avoid the crowds and easily found a place to park close to the starting line. We didn’t have to stress getting to the starting line before the gun went off. Val, having more race experience is much better at managing race day anxiety than a year ago and I believe that only helped her performance as it did today with another half marathon personal best time of 1:40:34. (See the stats below).
The weather was ideal for a race with a starting temperature of 58 degrees and no wind. Humidity was high, but not a factor.I skated the course, looking for photo ops to catch Val in flight. As it turned out, I skated about the same distance as the half marathon, so I consider that my training workout for the day and I assure you it was much easier than Val’s effort. At the points along the race course where I caught up with her, Val looked strong and confident and totally immersed in the race. Val is one of those competitors who lives for race day and once the gun goes off, she goes off. She ran a strong, smart race. I’m am proud of her and inspired by her. Great race, Foo!
For more pictures, click here.
Long Beach International City Bank Marathon - Half Marathon
|
Bib:
|
8422
|
|
Name:
|
Valerie Kesler
|
|
Gender:
|
F
|
|
Age:
|
43
|
|
Hometown:
|
Newport Beach CA
|
|
Place Overall:
|
303
|
out of 5967
|
|
Women:
|
53
|
out of 3363
|
|
F 40-44:
|
12
|
out of 448
|
|
AgeGrade:
|
70.44%
|
Place: 110
|
|
FINISH:
|
1:40:34
|
pace: 7:41
|
|
Chip Time:
|
1:40:34
|
|
|
Gun Time:
|
1:40:48
|
|
October 14th, 2007
Posted by
MarkFu |
Training Log, Valerie |
one comment
One week out from the targeted and very popular Long Beach Marathon and Half Marathon, Val tested her conditioning and peaking by running a tight, local race, the Chapman University 5K. Not only was Val just seconds off her personal best in the distance with a time of 21:45, she placed 2nd in her age group, her highest placing yet. Here Val proudlly shows off her trophy.
She says she did not feel all that competitive and would have gotten a PR had I been there. Uh-huh. (I think she would have gotten the PR if she knew a certain competitior would be in the race but was not).
Val ran an excellent tune-up race and is definitely ready to knock down a half marathon PR in Long Beach next weekend.
Meanwhile, I slept in but when I got up I did a workout entirely with the rings, which I enjoyed.
Ring Push-ups: 20/20e/20e/20e/ (e means legs were elevated 24″) Ring Dips: 7/8/6 My right shoulder was beginning to lag on the 3rd set. Ring Pull-ups: 7/7/7/8/. Ring Body Pulls: 10/10/10/10e/
October 6th, 2007
Posted by
MarkFu |
Training Log, Valerie |
no comments
I began the day early to get Val ready to race the Surf City 5K run in Huntington Beach at 8:00 AM. As it is July 4th, I felt a good way to begin the day’s festivities was to listen to Red Skelton’s recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. It is always a good reminder to understand the meaning behind the words.
The day started out overcast and a bit humid and warm, but that did not slow down Valerie, who ran to yet another personal best time of 21:29 at 6:54 min/mile. She kept wondering where the finish line was and at the last turn, where I stood yelling and imploring her to a fast finish, she must have heard me and found another gear to get her across the finish line.After the race, where she finished 5th in her division, we watched the 4th of July parade on Main St. which was as as traditional Americana you will get anywhere in the country, yet with it’s own “Surf City” flavor. After all the years of living here, this is the first time I have been to the parade, and I am not even a “parade guy”! I hope to be here next year.
This parade had it all…in the parade and the crowd of spectators. From surfer bands and woodys to military trucks, tanks and soldiers to Shriners in little cars and scooters. Tattoos and bikinis, families, kids, dogs and thousands of beach cruisers. This is what a parade is all about!
Have a great 4th of July everyone. Get a good spot for the fireworks!
July 4th, 2007
Posted by
MarkFu |
Current Affairs, Life in General, People, Valerie |
no comments
THE PR-Another cool and overcast Saturday morning so that means Val ran another race, her second 5K. This one was in downtown Anaheim and while it is a small, local event, it went well and Val lowered her 5K time by 27 seconds and finished it in a new PR of 21:39 which was 6:57 min/miles.
She rewarded herself for her fine showing and once again beating her nemesis, R. Baker, by buying her first pair of ultralight racing flats. She can’t wait to try ‘em out on the track Tuesday!
Now, for the PS (personally, SUCKED).
Continue reading “A PR and A PS”
June 9th, 2007
Posted by
MarkFu |
Valerie |
no comments
Barely fully recovered from the Saddleback half marathon last weekend, Val saddled up to do another race, this time a 5K, (3.1 miles).
Under similar ideal conditions as last weekend, we drove to Corona del Mar for the 26th annual Corona del Mark Scenic 5K and Walk
Continue reading “Valerie’s First 5K Race”
June 2nd, 2007
Posted by
MarkFu |
Valerie |
one comment
