parcheesi strategy ...

The night before the Bermuda Half Marathon, we played Parcheesi. I was having a slow start, but eventually picked up speed. I laughed about it and told G that I was going to use the "Parcheesi Strategy" during the race. Start out slow and finish strong. It worked. Mostly.

2010 Bermuda Half Marathon Race Schedule

5:30 a.m.: Wake up.

5:35-6:00 a.m.: Get dressed in your super cute race outfit. Mentally prepare yourself for all the attention you will get for being part of the best looking duo on the course.

6:00-6:25 a.m.: Eat your breakfast of two bananas and peanut butter while you wait for an overpriced taxi cab to drive you to the race. Chat it up with other runners. Get a feel for the course. Start to understand that the race might be hillier than you thought.

6:25-6:55 a.m.: Drive to the race. Do your best not to vomit in the back seat of the cab (evil motion sickness).

6:55 a.m.: Arrive at the start. Look around. Begin to believe that you might not be in the right location as there are no other runners and not even the beginning of a start line. Start to question if the race is going to be able to begin on time.

7:00 a.m.: Sneeze. Twice. On the second sneeze, seize up your upper back, losing the ability to turn your head.

7:15 a.m.: Watch as race officials begin to construct the start and finish areas. Laugh at the pathetic nature of it all.

7:15-7:30 a.m.: Wait. Wait. And wait some more. (This is us waiting.)

7:30-7:45 a.m.: Head inside to drop off your bag at the "unsecured" bag check. Pray that no one really wants to steal your sweatshirt. Wait in line for the bathroom, then get out of the line as the smell is so overwhelming that you'd rather pee your pants than vomit.

7:50 a.m.: Get interviewed by the Bermuda Sports Network for no other reason than having the most kick a** outfit. (Note the awesome outfits)

7:55 a.m.: Run into Runner's World's Bart Yasso who will proceed to tap your shoulder and say, "Great socks."

7:55:15 a.m.: Snap a picture of Bart as he walks away. (He's in the red and white shirt. We should have chased after him.)

8:00 a.m.: Start running, 100% shocked that they actually managed to set up the race in 45 minutes.

8:00-10:14 a.m.: Run the hilliest and most beautiful half marathon course you have ever seen. Start conservatively and maintain your pace. Take it all in. Laugh as you get passed by Bart at mile 10. Meet your best bud at mile 12. Finish strong and be proud. (This is me at mile 12, thanks to my awesome photographer, G.)

10:15 a.m.: Drink some water as you contemplate the fact that you just PR'd by 3 minutes and 24 seconds on a very challenging course. Start feeling dizzy.

10:20 a.m.: Get interviewed for a second time by the Bermuda Sports Network.

10:25 a.m.: Stand still as your best bud finds you some food so that you don't collapse.

10:30 a.m.: Eat that food and make your way back home.

10:45 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.: Do your best to recover. Hot Tub. Shower. Nap. Rehydrate. Eat. Go on a boat and get horrendous motion sickness. Go to bed at 7 p.m.

As you can see, I had a really full day. It was beyond fun. The entire trip was (more on that in my vacation report tomorrow). The course was very challenging. But I did stick to my "Parcheesi Strategy" and walked away with a PR. G and I got so much press. Two TV interviews. Everyone with a camera took our picture. Seriously, did I mention it was totally awesome? So who's in for next year?

New Year's Day 10K

Last year, I ran a New Year's Day 10K. I was 35 weeks pregnant. I ran slow. I only beat 37 people. Somehow, I finished 5th overall in the Athena division.

Today, I ran that race again. I am 48 weeks postpartum. I ran less slow. I beat 151 people. Somehow, I finished 5th overall in the Athena division.

Funny, huh?

I had remembered that the route was hilly. In fact, the website says, and I quote, "This course is challenging." Big red flag, right?

I was nervous going in. I wanted to run fast, but I also didn't want to die on the hills. I couldn't quite remember if I thought the course was hard last year because I was HUGELY pregnant or if it was actually just really hard. Upon arrival, G and I spotted our buddy D, who is MUCH faster than me. I figured if I stuck with her, I'd be good. She was cool with that.

But there were a few things I forgot to take into account. First, it was like I totally forgot that I am only three weeks out from an injury and have done all but two runs on a treadmill. Second, I was oblivious to the fact that I have not run a single hill in weeks, maybe months, maybe years - I guess it all really depends on what you classify as a hill. Third, it seemed to have skipped my mind that I ALWAYS GO OUT TOO FAST AND THEN CRASH AND BURN. Can you see where this is going?

Anyway, I went out with D. I didn't look at my watch. It didn't really feel like we were running fast. It was probably because of all the hills. But I was wrong. Mile one split: 8:05 ... Hello, Tonia! Wake up! That's faster than your 5K pace! (I would like to note however, that while all that treadmill running has not helped with my hill running, it definitely built my speed - 8:05 is wicked fast for me.)

The second mile wasn't bad either. My legs were definitely burning, but I was still keeping up with D. At the two mile mark, my overall pace was 8:33. I had definitely slowed down, but was still on track to PR (can I just note that my PR is on a PANCAKE FLAT course?). But then, somewhere before mile three (and giant hill 25) I started to feel like I couldn't lift my legs. They were 100% dead.

At the 5K mark, my overall pace had dropped to 9:10. I hurt. But soon after, Jackie P. caught up to me. We ran together for about half a mile. Until the water stop. I slowed to drink. And couldn't really start again. He went on and I fell back. About 30 seconds later, Ed (who would go on to win the 65-69 age group) caught up with me. We ran the next mile together. He asked me if I was a student (seriously? why does that keep happening?) I told him thanks for the complement, but I was married with three kids and that I ran this race last year four weeks before my youngest was born. He laughed and said, "I would have guessed you were 18. Well, I guess running today must seem much easier." I told him,"It sure doesn't feel that way."

We stayed together until I spotted G just after mile five. She (and her injured knee) ran along with me for a minute. She gave me the boost I needed and I trekked on to the finish. That last mile hurt. I crossed the line in 59:13 - not as fast as I had hoped, but oddly, I am OK with that. It was a good race. I was shown again that I should stop going out too fast. And that I really need to be throwing some incline into my treadmill workouts. Simple enough, right?

2009 review and 2010 goals

It's been a big year in our house. We had our third (and last) child. We bought a new house, one which we hope to live in for a VERY LONG TIME. J started a new job. I started my own business. We've watched our children grow and flourish. We've watched them frustrate (both us and themselves). Things have been good. We are blessed. And happy.

It's also been a big year on the running front. It started with me all huge and waddling. Running at the end of a pregnancy is a rather awkward thing (but I would highly recommend sticking with it if you can). Once Dilly arrived, I was forced to take a three week hiatus. I did. Then returned to running (and racing) 23 days after Dilly's birth. I ran the Youngblood 5K, which I finished in 27:35 and somehow placed 3rd in my age group. Yes, there were only nine people in my age group, but I still beat six of them!

I used the rest of the spring to build my speed before marathon training began. I ran two 10K, an 8k and two 5Ks between April 1st and May 31st. By the end of May, I had gained back most of the speed I had lost during my pregnancy. I even set a new 5K PR of 25:19. Definitely the highlight of the year.

June 1st started half-marathon training, which led right into marathon training. Over the next 24 weeks, I logged almost 600 miles. In that same time, I PR'd at the Patrick Henry Half in a time of 2:18:18. That same day I suffered severe dehydration and was inches away from heat stroke. Not my best running moment. But at least it taught me to NEVER run another half marathon in the middle of summer in the South. Seems so obvious now ...

After that half, marathon training went well. Until four weeks out. My ankle started acting up. I had to back off on mileage. And then I fell down the stairs and hurt my other foot. It was rough. I did almost no running in the last three weeks of training. But on race day, I was standing at the start line ready to go. Before the race was half over, my ankle gave out. I didn't know at the time but it was severely sprained. I finished, slower than I had hoped, but amazingly I loved every moment of it.

I would have to take the next three weeks off due to that injury. But after a cast and a dose of cortisone, I came back, perhaps stronger than before. Today, I logged my last run of 2009. And while I missed my goal of 1000 miles, I am rather happy with what I did accomplish. And very hopeful for 2010. So here they are, my 2009 totals and 2010 goals:

2009:
921.35 miles run
110,562 calories burned
3 PRs set
at least 50 cupcakes eaten

2010 goals:
run 1000 miles
run a 2 hour half marathon
run a sub-25 5K
run a sub 7:10 mile
eat less than 50 cupcakes

What will you do in 2010?

Virtual Winter Misery One Miler ...

I partook in my first virtual race today - The Winter Misery One Miler hosted by RunningLaur. I had never heard of this "virtual race" thing before but instantly wanted to be a part of it. I was totally psyched about the distance. I have been itching to do a mile time trial, but have been putting it off. Now I had the perfect reason to try.

So this afternoon, I headed outside (for the first time in ... well too long). The temperature was 34 which contributed to some dicey conditions. The roads are still rather icy from last weekend's storm and I found myself dodging black ice and shortening my stride to keep myself from falling. I ran as hard as I possibly could without wiping out and never looked at my watch. There were moments when I thought I might die. But I didn't. I finished. And rather quickly (for me anyway) ...

McMillian says that based on my 5K time, I should be able to do a mile in 7:18. I think that is pretty dead on given ideal conditions (ice is not ideal). Perhaps another goal for 2010 ...