Race Report (1 week late)

Holy smokes!

It's been a week since I completed my 2nd 1/2 marathon and I'm just getting the race report up. That shows just how busy things have been around here lately. As a matter of fact, this is the 1st time, a week later, that I had more than 15 minutes to sit down and collect my thoughts about the race.

 

This might get a little lengthy, but I gotta get it all in before I forget it.

The facts:
The race: The Boston Trail 1/2 Marathon (same one I ran last year)
The date: Saturday, April 20, 2013

 

I decided in January to run this race again. My good friend Amy and I decided we wanted to give it another whirl. This was my 1st 1/2 in 2012 and her 2nd. We began training and somewhere along the way, not too far in, we both recruited a couple friends who were interested in running also. We started a Facebook group where we shared our WIR (week in review), running motivation, and other fun running news. About 1/2 way through the training, Amy announced that after much pain in her hip, she wouldn't be able to continue training but take some time to rest that hip. Some others also had to pull out for various reasons, but so it goes in running!

On the morning of the run, 6 of us from the running group showed up to put our best foot/feet forward and get another (or 1st) chance of earning a 1/2marathon finisher's medal. I think of the 6 of us, I was the only one with 1 half under my belt.

 

It was cold that morning, but the sun would peek out every now and then. The race started at 9:00am with a moment of silence for all those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings.
My goal for this race was to finish feeling better than last year. And of course, I wanted a better time.

 

The first 6 miles were good, better than I expected. And faster than I expected.

Mile 1 = 9:07

Mile 2 = 9:03

Mile 3 = 9:16

Mile 4 = 9:22

Mile 5 = 9:12

Mile 6 =  9:19

I know that the Map My Run app overestimates mileage, so I know these splits weren't completely accurate, but was thrilled to hear them chiming in each mile. What I really should have been doing is taking heed and slowing down a bit more. But, as a rookie runner, I didn't!

I felt well fueled, well hydrated, and I honestly felt Ok. I really didn't want to slow down.

The turn around came at 6.5 and I remember thinking that at this point last year I was really starting to tank. This year, I was feeling it, but I knew I wasn't tanking.

Mile 7 = 9:20

Mile 8 = 9:17

Mile 9 = 9:35

Somewhere between miles 9 and 10, I realized that I might be in some trouble. I started having a sharp pain in my upper right thigh - like, what in the world? I never felt it before. Oh well, I'll just try and ignore it. But just like me, the negative thoughts set in and I started a downward spiral that led to the last 3 miles being a run/walk combo. Honestly, though, I didn't really care because other than the pain, I felt OK. I mean, I wasn't awesome, but I knew that even if I had to walk it all, I was getting over that finish line in 1 piece and with some satisfaction.

Mile 10 = 10:20

Mile 11 = 10:12

Mile 12 = 11:03

Mile 13 = 10:31

Coming in around mile 11. Thank goodness for my support team, my boys! It was so amazing to see them. They stopped at 3 different spots to cheer me on. At the last stop, I said, "See ya at the finish line!" That was so awesome to say!

According to the Map My Run app, I actually ran 13.47, so my pace was a 9:47 (which would be 2 seconds faster than last year's pace), but the official chip time had me at 13.1 miles in 2:10:41, with a 9:58 pace.

I'll take it!

I got the medal!

And, all my running group friends did awesome as well! Most, I think, coming in way under their

 A Goal - awesome.

 

Heading into the finish line. Look behind the guy on the mat to find me :)

I had to add this photo. This is my friend, Deanna (who is actually my student as well). She is someone who I 'suckered' into this training and she took it and ran with it (pun totally intended). Her goal was under 2:20. She hit it in like, 2:12ish!!! Can you say warrior?

Another one of my students - Kelly. New to running, she's only completed (1) 5k prior to this race. We ran together for most of the race but she took off around mile 9/10 and finished in ~ 2:06! Her 1st 1/2! She better come back next year. She's sure to catch a sub 2:00!

My Team! Oh my goodness! What in the world would I do without them? They are my everything!

 I'm already thinking about next year! This is a great run and I think it's going to become tradition!

Next post will be about my reflections on what I did right and wrong.

THANKS for supporting me and reading!

1st Race of 2013

Even though it may seem, due to the lack of blog posts, that I have been slacking off, I have been running. A lot.

 

I am so excited to say that in a little less than a month I'll be checking my 2nd 1/2 marathon off my list! I will be running the Boston Trail 1/2m. This is the same race I ran last year with my friend, Amy. This year we both recruited 4/5 other gals to run it with us. Well, I say 'with us,' but no one is holding another to run together unless paces align. We're all meeting but going out to do what feels best for us. The goal? Just finish!

 

So I'm following the Hal Higdon Novice 2 plan again.

I start week 9 of the plan today. My longest long run so far was 10 miles - I just ran that on Friday. It was tough but the weird thing was that there was practically no recovery period; I didn't hurt at all the next day. The evening of the run my legs were a little tight, but not like 'I just ran 10 miles,' tired. Hmmm? Maybe it was the mellow rock playlist I made to keep me happy? Maybe it was the fact that it was 26 degrees and my legs never really had the chance to get too warm?

 

So onto what this post title implies - a RACE!

I ran a 5-mile race last Sunday, the 17th. It was the Ken Brumbaugh Memorial Race sponsored by the Hollidaysburg YMCA.

It was on the Horseshoe Curve road.

 A bit of an upgrade on the way out, which I didn't realize until the turn around point when things seemed to get a bit easier. I guess in a course like that negative splits are a given.

 Overall I felt OK - I have not been focused on speed during any of my training, so speed was obviously not my goal. Actually, my goal was 5 miles at 1/2M race pace, which is ~9:45/9:40 (somewhere around there, although I'll be fine with anything under a 10 minute mile).

 

Official time: 44:17 (8:51 pace)
Female 35-39: 5th out of 10 runners

Impressions: better than I was hoping for!

 

Me and my friend Sandy, who btw captured a 2nd place finish in her age category with a 43:24 finish (she just blew right past me).

She's training for Pittsburgh Marathon in May -she amazes me with the level of commitment, skill, and ability she has :) This race is the first time we've run together in a long time. Too long. We need to run together again soon.

 

So I'm ready to start week 9 of this training. It's a step-back week - long run is a 10k. I'm cool with that since it's Easter week and there's a lot going on. Of course, it might be worth it for me to plug in a longer run since I'll have a little extra time off.

And Then There Were 10!

10.

Those pesky last 10 pounds.

I've been carrying them around and it's time to get rid of them once and for all.

Later this morning I will join the Winter Fitness Challenge (can't remember if that's what it's called or if I made that name up - it works) at work.

 

The rules are simple: weigh in, pay $5, get healthier/lose weight, win if you've lost the most weight (percentage).

 

I'm not in it to win it, but the thought of climbing on that scale in front of another person today and then again at the end of the semester is surely a motivation I need to get to it and stick to it.

 

 

Just an Observation

I went to the gym on campus yesterday as I do most days of the week.

My observation was that almost every machine was inhabited - that's not the norm.

My conclusion is that most students made new year's resolutions that include fitness or weight loss.

My prediction is that fast forward 1 month and I'll be back to having the choice of almost any machine there.

My hope is that fast forward 1 month and I'll still have to fight for a machine - I really do. It's great to see students with lofty goals. Even if the majority of them fall off the bandwagon in a month, some won't. Some will stay on their path toward health and wellness! 

I look back to 2010 when I was the one with the new year's resolution and others, at the gym, probably looked at me and doubted that I'd be there come February. But I was the one, the few, that made it through January, February, and 3 years later, I'm still there!

So I say: Go ahead, keep trying. You might fail, but you'll never succeed if you don't give it a try!

Better Get a Move On

We're 5 days into the new year and time is a-wasting. 
I better commit to some goals or I'm gonna end up in Regretsville.

A few thoughts before I construct my 2013 goal list:

* I don't think it's wise to try and beat my total mileage from last year. It was hard enough getting that # under my belt. I feel like if I try and top it, I'm asking for injury.

* I think I'm finally, after 3 years, coming around to understanding what running means to me and my body.

* I'm interested in cross training more and attempting to tone all those flabby areas (and there are many) and I'm realizing running is the only way there.

So, here goes:

1. Run 500 miles - or about that. Also would like to log another 500 miles on the bike (indoor and/or out). 

2. Complete another 1/2 marathon. Main goal with this is to finish feeling like I gave it my all but also feeling OK. I might try and PR, which wouldn't be hard to beat 2:08:39 if I play it smart.

3. PR in the 4th of July 5k. I mean PR on this course. My goal will need to be 27:09. I think I might strive for a sub 27 on that.

4. Help someone get started running. I'm by no means an expert, but I've failed and succeeded enough in the past 3 years that I can probably help someone else get a running goal initiated. My boys always talk about running - maybe I'll help them run a race?

5. Attend the RRCA (Road Runners Club of America) coaching certification course. I know I'm not the ideal person to be 'coaching' other runners, but I'd like to someday and I know this certification course will help. These courses fill up pretty much as soon as they're announced, so if I don't meet this goal this year, it'll go on next year's list.

6. Cross-train more regularly. I think this is key to keeping me injury free. Fortunately for me, I have access to an excellent cross-training class at work. Everyday from 12-12:30! I just need to make sure I get there!

7. More water and better nutrition. This will always be on the list.

I don't think there's anything unreasonable in here. It's not an amazing list, but I am going to look at this year as my recovery year - I've gone 3 years pushing and pushing from one race/training right into another. So if you were hoping to read that I was throwing in the hat and going for the BIG 26.2 this year, sorry to disappoint. I'm thrilled with these goals and know I'll enjoy attaining them - that might just be the best part of it!

Any BIG goals for you? 

How about little, but satisfying goals?

Any crazy, like "I'm out of my mind for even thinking this," goals?

Good luck and remember to enjoy the ride (or run)!

Looking Back and Ahead

I just finished my 3rd year of my 'getting healthier' adventure!

2012 was a good year for me. 1 year ago, I set some goals (written in black) and now it's time to see how I did (written in blue)!

 

1. Run more than 600 miles. If I keep up my miles as I did this year, I should accomplish this goal, no problem! Success! I logged (if I counted correctly) 761.76 miles running and 260.49 on the Expresso bike at the gym! Signing up and training for those longer distance races is how I was able to meet this goal.

2. Finish a 'bigger' race. This would be anything longer than a 10k, since that's the longest run I've done up to this point. Will it be a 10.1k? Maybe a 15k? We'll see. The key word in this goal is finish. Check! I ran a total of (6) 5Ks, (1) 2-miler, (1) 10K, (1) 15K, and 1 half marathon in 2012! That's a huge accomplishment for me!

3. PR in a 5k. This is a goal that, a year from now, I might be re-reading and think, "What was I thinking?" But by putting this in writing, I know it will encourage me to incorporate speed work into my training - that's the reason it's in here. Fail! I really didn't think this would happen, but it did encourage me to put some speed training into my workouts. I did, however, PR on the SFU 5k course in April (with a time of 27:25). I guess I can also say I PR'd in a 1/2M in April :)

4. Increase my # of group runs. I usually run alone, but in the few times that I've run with someone or a group of people, I realized how much fun it is, so I want to do it more. Check. I also ran my 1st race with a race buddy - Amy! Thank goodness for her or I don't think I would've finished the 1/2M.

5. (Most important for me) Be smart. I need to keep in mind that more is not better and that I need not take myself so seriously. After being out of the running circuit for almost 2 months in 2011 because of my knee injury (due to me being an idiot and over-training), I realized that I need to have balance in my training (enter my Hal Higdon training plans - which I will follow this time). Check! I really feel like I'm starting to come into my own wisdom with running. By the time 2012 ended, I really started to feel like a runner - someone who knows what's best for their own body and mind!

 

So - this only leaves 1 question - what's next?That'll be in the next post (read as 'I haven't solidified 2013 plans yet') - maybe I should work on procrastination ;)

In the mean time, enjoy the picture of the bling I earned, to my surprise, at last evening's Twilight Race with a time of 24:25 - 2nd best time on this course!

2nd place in my age category - not too shabby :)

 

 



2012 - Year in Review (in photos)

This is the time to look back and review all the successes and failures of the year. 2012 brought me a fair share of both successes and failures, as far as fitness and running goes.

I am working on analyzing my 2012 goals  -that will be a different post.

For now, I decided to post 12 pictures - 1 for each month of 2012 that highlight (or low-light) the year.

 

Healthy waffles with homemade fruit puree

Half marathon training with Sandy

Saint Patty's Day run with friends

HUGE accomplishment - 13.1 - CHECK!

Finishing Cresson 5k

Beautiful morning run before work

4th of July 15k - I look happy but it's only b/c I was done. This one went down as my worst run e-v-e-r

Looking tough

Leaving for a run from my parents' house

DiSepio Fitness Challenge 5k Halloween weekend

2 mile Turkey Trot - earned a 2nd place finish (lost 1st place by 1 second)

And finally, the Twilight 5k - that's tomorrow!