Governor’s Cup 2011 Preview: Running with a Penguin & PR Down the Drain?

Oct 30, 2011 by

Governor’s Cup 2011 Preview: Running with a Penguin & PR Down the Drain?

Next Saturday, November 5, is the Governor’s Cup Road Race Half Marathon in Columbia, SC.  The race starts at 8:00 am in front of the State House and finishes at the University of South Carolina Horse Shoe.  This will be my 3rd time running this race and is one of my favorite events.

Below you can see the elevation map from the course.  This is from my GPS watch during the 2010 race.  This 2011 race has been re-routed slightly near the middle due to a sinkhole.  You can see the course is pretty hilly.  Basically, you work your way to the bottom near the half way point and them work your way back up.  That last steep hill at the end is Blossom Street, a killer last 1/2 mile!  My favorite part starts about mile 10 at the top of Devine Street.  From there it is a  nice 2.5 mile run downhill to the area of Columbia known as 5 Points.  Gives you a nice break before that last climb up Blossom.

2010 Governor's Cup Elevation

 

 

Running with a Penguin

My friend Dean Schuster plans to run in the 2012 Antarctica Marathon and is raising money for penguin conservation.  To help raise awareness and money, Dean is running this year’s Governor’s Cup in a full penguin suit.  Yes, I’m serious.  Please check out his site, RunningWithPenguins.com and consider making a donation.

PR Down the Drain?

Taper is another running term that means to ease off the training before a big race so your body recovers and is ready for the big day.  If you Google “Running Taper” you will find links to many sites advising on how to taper properly for a big race.  I’m not 100% sure which one is best, but I do know what is NOT best: Injuring your foot 2 weeks before a race and not being able to run for a week.  Last Sunday, I went for an easy 4 mile trail run.  I wore my Vibram Five Fingers and felt great.  Later that night, though, I started experiencing pain in the top of my foot, about where the Five Fingers strap comes across.

The pain became worse over the next day and a half, and I went to the doc to make sure I didn’t have a stress fracture.  Doc didn’t think so and went with a tendonitis diagnosis.  After almost a week of prescription anti-inflammatory pills, ice/heat, bike, and rest, I was finally able to run 6 days later – a 4 mile test.  The foot held up OK and felt decent the next day.   Will it hold up well enough for 13.1 miles to beat my 8:00/mile pace goal?  We’ll see.

POFIFOTO!

1 Comment

  1. If you manage an 8:00/mile pace, I will never catch you.

    – Penguin

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  1. 2011 Governor’s Cup Recap – Palmetto State Runner - [...] you read my Governor’s Cup preview, you know that I would be chased by a penguin, and that my…

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