7 Minute Miles Header

2013 Monster Dash Half

Posted October 28, 2013

When I signed up for the 2013 Monster Dash half marathon, it was with the intent of running fast enough to keep my corral one option for Twin Cities, since my last Monster time in 2009 was about to expire. Turns out I qualified for corral one with my last marathon time (and again this year), so I didn’t really need to run it after all. I did want to see the new St. Paul course, though, and the weather turned out to be very nice for late October.

For a course that supposedly has a 400-foot net drop, it seemed pretty hilly in spots. Going backwards on Summit is pretty cool, but I’m still not wild about that stretch along Shepard Road. Parking worked out well for me and was just like going to a Wild game. Too bad so many others got stuck in traffic, causing the 10 minute delay in the start. The race is chip-timed, though, so I don’t really think they had to do that (especially with the cold wind making people who got there on time suffer).

I really didn’t think I was in any condition to run a PR, given the lack of mileage since TCM. My half PR from 2009 seemed too fast to beat, but I found the 1:40 pacer and started the race with her. After a mile or two, I found the pace comfortable and pushed ahead of that group (hoping I wouldn’t get caught later). I did OK with splits for most of the race, trying to keep them around 7:30:

  • 7:22, 7:27, 7:32, 7:16, 7:13, 7:35, 7:29, 7:28, 7:31, 7:38, 7:37, 7:55, 7:21

That twelfth mile almost did me in and I really had to push hard on mile thirteen to get the 35 second PR. I’m not really sure what happened that mile either – no big hills and just a little headwind. In any case, very happy I didn’t lose it.

Physically, this was a tough race, as I felt something in my right leg around mile six and felt pretty sore the next day. It all seems better now that I finally got some rest. Hoping to get in a few light treadmill workouts this week, as I try not to do a two month taper leading into Disney.

This has been a great running year for me. As I tweeted earlier, the run log shows PRs in every distance except for the 5K (which I missed by 45 seconds). The one mile, 10K, half and marathon marks all got updated in 2013 – hurray for aging! And the best part is I feel like there is still room for improvement across the board.

Onward to 2014…


flourish icon

No Alarm Day = rolled out of bed at 11:30


@kingsbury tweeted October 28, 2013


flourish icon

Come on Packers, I had 50 on the over/under


@kingsbury tweeted October 27, 2013


flourish icon

Capsule review: prefer the steak to the pizza at Burch. Also: drank that Scotch way too fast (not driving)


@kingsbury tweeted October 27, 2013


flourish icon

Nice room

Pic posted October 27, 2013

The basement at Burch with kid two and the old lady, Minneapolis


flourish icon

Heading out to try the pizza at Burch tonight


@kingsbury tweeted October 27, 2013


flourish icon

Sugar Plum Fairy came and hit the streets, looking for soul food and a place to eat…

— Walk on the Wild Side (RIP Lou)

Quote posted October 27, 2013


flourish icon

So sleepy and sore, but also glad to see the fish swim again


@kingsbury tweeted October 27, 2013


flourish icon

Worth the drive

Pic posted October 27, 2013

Kid two (the fish) at her latest swim meet (in lane 7)


flourish icon

My eyes and legs hate me, but safely home – an abundance of deer on that drive too


@kingsbury tweeted October 27, 2013


flourish icon

Costume photo uploads too slow here, so I guess it’s time to hit the road and finish on faster pipes in the metro


@kingsbury tweeted October 26, 2013


flourish icon

Just re-checked the run logs – new PRs this year for mile, 10K, half marathon and marathon (missed the 5K by 45 seconds)


@kingsbury tweeted October 26, 2013


flourish icon

The first half of my journey went safe and smooth – gearing up now for three hours of costume photography


@kingsbury tweeted October 26, 2013


flourish icon

M Doughty Plays Soul Coughing

Posted October 26, 2013

Fun show last night at First Avenue with Terry to see Mike Doughty play songs from Ruby Vroom, Irresistible Bliss and El Oso. I thought he was going to play all three albums in their entirety, but I’m pretty sure that didn’t happen (don’t have the set list to confirm). He started right at 9:15 and I think we were out the door by 11, so that doesn’t seem like enough time for three whole albums.

Some of the songs were “reimagined” a bit, but overall it was a very familiar show for fans of Soul Coughing. I had seen them once at First Ave and I’ve seen him solo once or twice, but there were a number of songs I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard live before. My all time favorite Soul Coughing song is Screenwriter’s Blues, which he played by himself (and with an awesome sounding turntable as backup).

The drummer and standing bass player were both very good on the other songs and Doughty seemed to be having lots of fun riffing wildly on guitar at times and playing around with lots of electronic triggers and drum pads on a couple songs. He also knew exactly where he was, citing Uptown and St. Paul during Is Chicago, Is Not Chicago. Yay, Shelbyville!


flourish icon

She was a part of my heart, now she’s just a line in my face…

— The Trip to Pirate’s Cove

Quote posted October 26, 2013


flourish icon

464-mile round trip today to work the Halloween party on Lake Vermilion


@kingsbury tweeted October 26, 2013


flourish icon

Kid one makeup

Pic posted October 26, 2013

Off to work the Fortune Bay Halloween contest


flourish icon

35 second PR at the Monster Half – unofficial watch time of 1:38:39


@kingsbury tweeted October 26, 2013


flourish icon

It is 5 am and you are listening to Los Angeles…

— Screenwriter’s Blues

Quote posted October 26, 2013


flourish icon

Is Chicago? Uptown is in the room…St. Paul is in the room…


@kingsbury tweeted October 25, 2013


flourish icon

I’ve got balls

Pic posted October 25, 2013

Team Titleist “TEST” golf balls


flourish icon

Packed day today: kid two ortho, lunch with Mark, kid one doctor(s), Monster Dash expo, ring repair, M Doughty at First Ave


@kingsbury tweeted October 25, 2013


flourish icon

Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser

Pic posted October 25, 2013

Blue Öyster Cult under the big top at Fortune Bay, Tower, Minnesota


flourish icon

Whatever, Minnesota

Pic posted October 25, 2013

It’s time, I guess…


flourish icon

Metro traffic at 1am was awesome – home safe


@kingsbury tweeted October 25, 2013


flourish icon