Chinatown Firecracker 10K, Year of the Tiger Official welcome

After my not so great week after the Marathon, I decided not to run Saturday and helped out with water stations for the Leggers instead. But I did go to Firecracker 10K on Sunday. How could I not? This event is crazy. It's crowded, packed with people from all races, ages, and abilities, and starts off with a bang of hundreds of firecrackers going off. I didn't actually see the firecrackers; but I heard them, smelled them, and saw the smoke. There was also a lively dragon dance - Just the right amount of cheesiness and fun.

I did the Firecracker 5K 2 years ago, so I knew to expect hills. And after that race, I vowed never to do it again. But I've worked on hill training since then, and I started off pretty slowly - running - but slowly. The 10K started half an hour after the 5K, and since I got there very early, I was eager to go. The hills were just as I remembered them, steep! But I was prepared and was able to run up them at a relaxed pace. The views were beautiful. Gorgeous clear day. Now the parts I wasn't as crazy about? The downhills. Steep steep downhills. Running with brakes at full force downhills. So I took little walk breaks there. No need to muck up my knees. Once I got to Dodger's Stadium, a little over a mile away from home base, I notched up my speed. I was feeling good and heading to the finish. My final time was 1:09:21 . And after it was done? I went home. Too crowded!

But I did spot the Tiger. He looked beautiful, happy, strong and hopeful. Happy Chinese New Year everyone.

Runner's Almanac - Day 12

Rest day - no running. Did plenty of icing and caught up on the new season of Project Runway. Also found out that the Los Angeles Marathon is looking more commercial and less runner-focused with each new update. For some reason, they have decided to drop the bicycle portion. There is also no longer an early bird registration fee discount. I'm not so thrilled with the new course since it goes through areas of town that, frankly, I see enough as it is. Also, since when is West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica part of the city of Los Angeles? I liked last year's course and hope that in the future it will return to Downtown. The Pasadena Marathon is looking more attractive ( as long as it doesn't rain again this year). Also, the folks of the Firecracker Run have posted their date for next year, and this way cool logo for the year of the Tiger. I did the 5K run at Firecracker in 2007, and boy, is this course hilly. But you can't beat the ambiance in Chinatown.


Happy running!