training hours - I am currently 11 days into my 30 week training plan for Cedar Point 140.6. Right now, my workouts are super short, like off season short (except for my long runs since I have a half marathon in April). However, on most days I double. I'm not sure if he's never noticed this before or if he's just hypersensitive to it right now, but everyday, J says, "You're {biking/running/swimming} again? You just did a workout."
Um, yes. That's what they call training.
It kind of makes me wonder what he's going to say when my training load is 20 hours a week rather than eight.
consistent - Speaking of training, I have finally returned to a normal pattern of swimming. No more taking off weeks at a time just because I felt it was too cold to get in the pool. And thanks to some awesome swim sets, I am loving ever stroke (cue my Rev3 teammates saying, "That's what she said.").
Anyway, in the past two weeks I have realized that despite all the things that I lack in the pool, I couldn't possibly be more consistent with my pacing. I've swam 2500 meters three times in the last 11 days and despite completely different workouts I finished in 48:54, 48:51 and 48:52.
Sure, I've never taken a lesson, I lack speed and decent kick and I'm confident that the teenagers on the pool deck are laughing at me, but at least you can set your watch by my swimming.
manners - Did you ever have a day where you swore you were doing a horrible job as parent? A day where you were convinced that your children had been possessed and there was nothing you could do about it? Yeah, well, I have those days all the time. But, I've officially found the best way to solidify your competence as a parent ...
Invite a completely spoiled and disrespectful child over to play with your children for an afternoon.
Don't believe me? Well, you should. All it takes is a few hours of being called "Hey you!" instead of by your name for your child to be shining in comparison.
Wait, that's not enough? OK. How about you listen to that child complain that he or she doesn't like a single food you offer or activity you suggest? Or better yet, how about overhearing that kid try to jump on your bike and/or treadmill without asking?
Well, when your kids step in and say, "That's not a good idea. It's my mom's and we should really ask first," you'll suddenly realize that you've done a fabulous job of teaching your children manners and setting appropriate boundaries for them. Trust me, you'll feel like a freaking rock star.
Showing posts with label pace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pace. Show all posts
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
following the beat ...
Oh, heart rate training.
If you ever want to do something completely frustrating, then try heart rate training.
For quite some time, I have known the merits of heart rate training.
I know how if you do the vast majority of your training in Zone 2, the "fat burning" zone, you will train your body to burn fat as fuel, thus making you more efficient.
I know how beneficial this sort of training can be for endurance sports, especially multi-hour events like ultras and long-course triathlons.
I know how if you are consistent with heart rate training, over time you will become more fit and that your paces within those zones will drop, often significantly.
And I know that it is incredibly hard to overtrain if you stay true to your heart rate zones. Really, it's a no-brainer. For most people, heart rate training is the way to go. Unfortunately, heart rate training is incredibly hard to do and pure torture if you are used to running by "feel".
One of the things on my 2013 To Do List was to stop obsessing about distance and train solely by heart rate. Because of this, I feel like I at least have to give it a solid effort. So, that's what I have been doing since January 1. And I've already learned some valuable lessons.
To begin with, heart rate training really messes with your ability to run with other people. In the past, I have shown up to run with friends and run whatever everyone else was running. Some days the pace was slow. Some days the pace was fast. But most of the time, I would call it conversational.
Now, when I run with others, I have to warn them that my pace will be incredibly slow and that if my heart rate starts climbing, I will have to slow or even walk to get it back into range. Although some people are chill with me screwing with their run like that, I really don't like to do it. It's just easier to run solo, even if that just means running a few blocks behind everyone else.
I have also learned that what I call "conversational" pace when I run by feel, in no way aligns with my Zone 2, although it should (in theory). This fact means one thing - my concept of "conversational" pace is really off. For example, during Christmas break I ran 8 miles with a friend with an average pace of 9:33. I would have said that was an "easy" run. We didn't struggle. We talked the entire time.
Today, I ran pretty much the same 8 mile route and stayed in Zone 2 (for me 138-156 bpm) the entire time. My average pace today was 11:06. And I probably could have run forever, which is kind of the point of running in Zone 2.
Ultimately, I know this is going to pay off. I just need to have patience and the mental fortitude to ignore the urge to pick up the pace. So, from now on, I'll be following the beat ...
If you ever want to do something completely frustrating, then try heart rate training.
For quite some time, I have known the merits of heart rate training.
I know how if you do the vast majority of your training in Zone 2, the "fat burning" zone, you will train your body to burn fat as fuel, thus making you more efficient.
I know how beneficial this sort of training can be for endurance sports, especially multi-hour events like ultras and long-course triathlons.
I know how if you are consistent with heart rate training, over time you will become more fit and that your paces within those zones will drop, often significantly.
And I know that it is incredibly hard to overtrain if you stay true to your heart rate zones. Really, it's a no-brainer. For most people, heart rate training is the way to go. Unfortunately, heart rate training is incredibly hard to do and pure torture if you are used to running by "feel".
One of the things on my 2013 To Do List was to stop obsessing about distance and train solely by heart rate. Because of this, I feel like I at least have to give it a solid effort. So, that's what I have been doing since January 1. And I've already learned some valuable lessons.
To begin with, heart rate training really messes with your ability to run with other people. In the past, I have shown up to run with friends and run whatever everyone else was running. Some days the pace was slow. Some days the pace was fast. But most of the time, I would call it conversational.
Now, when I run with others, I have to warn them that my pace will be incredibly slow and that if my heart rate starts climbing, I will have to slow or even walk to get it back into range. Although some people are chill with me screwing with their run like that, I really don't like to do it. It's just easier to run solo, even if that just means running a few blocks behind everyone else.
I have also learned that what I call "conversational" pace when I run by feel, in no way aligns with my Zone 2, although it should (in theory). This fact means one thing - my concept of "conversational" pace is really off. For example, during Christmas break I ran 8 miles with a friend with an average pace of 9:33. I would have said that was an "easy" run. We didn't struggle. We talked the entire time.
Today, I ran pretty much the same 8 mile route and stayed in Zone 2 (for me 138-156 bpm) the entire time. My average pace today was 11:06. And I probably could have run forever, which is kind of the point of running in Zone 2.
Ultimately, I know this is going to pay off. I just need to have patience and the mental fortitude to ignore the urge to pick up the pace. So, from now on, I'll be following the beat ...
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
HCA VA 8K recap ...
Location: Richmond, VA
Date: 11/10/12
Temperature: 38 degrees
Official Time: 41:00
Place in Age Group: 23/369
Place in Gender: 128/2264
Overall Place: 480/3587
The Course:
Fast and flat. Out and back.
This 8K course takes a straight shot up Broad St., which has a gentle grade, for the for the first two miles of the course. Just after mile 2, participants turn left and make their way over one block to Grace St., where they head back towards the finish. Runners are greeted with a the only climb of the course at mile four. It is smooth sailing after that, as the course flattens out and turns right onto 3rd street where the runners are greeted with a steep downhill into the finish.
(Note: This has been and will continue to be my favorite course in Richmond.)
The Good:
The Course: I love this course. It is PR friendly and easy to navigate. And the downhill finish is KILLER. And since they changed the finish this year to an even steeper downhill, it's better than it's ever been.
My Pace (initially): I wasn't quite sure what to expect going into this race. My run volume is down significantly from the last time I ran an 8K (20 miles per week now vs. 50 miles per week in 2010). I knew I could probably finish comfortably with a pace between 8:00 and 8:20, but I would have preferred to run sub-40. Honestly, I wasn't even sure if I was going to attempt to race until I got to the start line and then I wasn't really convinced. I decided to just run hard and see what happened.
Things started out well.
Mile 1: 7:45
Mile 2: 7:53
Two miles in and I was actually two seconds ahead of my pace from my 8K PR. That's when the wheels fell off. I have had a deep cough for about a week and a half. Once I got warmed up, things started moving around and I started hacking. So much so, that I couldn't run and cough at the same time. I am positive that I left part of my lung on the course.
Mile 3: 8:28
Mile 4: 8:54
Once I hit the mile 4 sign, I just told myself I could do anything for a mile and I hauled it in.
Last 0.99: 7:57
I finished at exactly 41 minutes with an average pace of 8:15. Right where I assumed I would be.
Racing with my sister: Can I just mention how much I love that my sister is a runner? It took me years to convince her to join in, but now that she has, it's pretty much the best thing ever.
My Music Selection: For the first time in pretty much FOREVER, I changed my race playlist. And then, I set it to random before I ran. Yet, somehow, the PERFECT songs came on at the PERFECT moments. I was pumped throughout the race and there was a song during every mile that reminded me to push myself.
The Weather: It was 38 degrees at the start of my race. And I dressed perfectly for it. By the end of the race, I was warm, but not overheated. In fact, I wouldn't have minded if it was a little colder.
The Race Length: Even with all the coughing, this race reaffirmed to me that the 8K is my favorite race distance. I love it and wish it was offered more often.
The Bad:
Missed Alarm: Since J was traveling and Gina was also running, I had to wake my kids up crazy early to take them to Earth Momma Mer's house. The plan was to get up at 5 a.m., get ready and then wake the girls at the last possible minute. Unfortunately, I failed to wake when my alarm went off. When I sprung out of bed at 5:30, just 10 minutes before we needed to be out the door, I found out that Gina wasn't up either. Obviously, we weren't really stressing about this race ...
My Mental Game: Despite the fact that this my favorite race, I really wasn't feeling it going in. I considered taking a DNS on multiple occasions prior to and including race morning. I knew I could run five miles, but I didn't feel like I could race five miles as hard as I would have liked to. And racing without giving it your all doesn't really sit well with me.
Considering that I already didn't feel strongly about this race, I also didn't really care if I had to stop to cough up a lung. Had I felt really prepared heading in, I may have tried harder to run through the cough. Basically, I was just disappointed in where my head was at. However, I did leave feeling like I wanted to up my mileage and get back on track.
The Ugly:
My Cough: I can not stress how bad must have looked along the course. My cough was (and kind of still is) deep and loud. And I was spitting out gunk left and right. I feel bad for anyone who happened to run near me. I am sure they are convinced that they were going to catch some sort of deadly infectious disease.
Date: 11/10/12
Temperature: 38 degrees
Official Time: 41:00
Place in Age Group: 23/369
Place in Gender: 128/2264
Overall Place: 480/3587
The Course:
Fast and flat. Out and back.
This 8K course takes a straight shot up Broad St., which has a gentle grade, for the for the first two miles of the course. Just after mile 2, participants turn left and make their way over one block to Grace St., where they head back towards the finish. Runners are greeted with a the only climb of the course at mile four. It is smooth sailing after that, as the course flattens out and turns right onto 3rd street where the runners are greeted with a steep downhill into the finish.
(Note: This has been and will continue to be my favorite course in Richmond.)
The Good:
The Course: I love this course. It is PR friendly and easy to navigate. And the downhill finish is KILLER. And since they changed the finish this year to an even steeper downhill, it's better than it's ever been.
My Pace (initially): I wasn't quite sure what to expect going into this race. My run volume is down significantly from the last time I ran an 8K (20 miles per week now vs. 50 miles per week in 2010). I knew I could probably finish comfortably with a pace between 8:00 and 8:20, but I would have preferred to run sub-40. Honestly, I wasn't even sure if I was going to attempt to race until I got to the start line and then I wasn't really convinced. I decided to just run hard and see what happened.
Things started out well.
Mile 1: 7:45
Mile 2: 7:53
Two miles in and I was actually two seconds ahead of my pace from my 8K PR. That's when the wheels fell off. I have had a deep cough for about a week and a half. Once I got warmed up, things started moving around and I started hacking. So much so, that I couldn't run and cough at the same time. I am positive that I left part of my lung on the course.
Mile 3: 8:28
Mile 4: 8:54
Once I hit the mile 4 sign, I just told myself I could do anything for a mile and I hauled it in.
Last 0.99: 7:57
I finished at exactly 41 minutes with an average pace of 8:15. Right where I assumed I would be.
Racing with my sister: Can I just mention how much I love that my sister is a runner? It took me years to convince her to join in, but now that she has, it's pretty much the best thing ever.
 |
| Pre-race, not really feeling it |
 |
| With a post-race glow ... |
My Music Selection: For the first time in pretty much FOREVER, I changed my race playlist. And then, I set it to random before I ran. Yet, somehow, the PERFECT songs came on at the PERFECT moments. I was pumped throughout the race and there was a song during every mile that reminded me to push myself.
The Weather: It was 38 degrees at the start of my race. And I dressed perfectly for it. By the end of the race, I was warm, but not overheated. In fact, I wouldn't have minded if it was a little colder.
The Race Length: Even with all the coughing, this race reaffirmed to me that the 8K is my favorite race distance. I love it and wish it was offered more often.
The Bad:
Missed Alarm: Since J was traveling and Gina was also running, I had to wake my kids up crazy early to take them to Earth Momma Mer's house. The plan was to get up at 5 a.m., get ready and then wake the girls at the last possible minute. Unfortunately, I failed to wake when my alarm went off. When I sprung out of bed at 5:30, just 10 minutes before we needed to be out the door, I found out that Gina wasn't up either. Obviously, we weren't really stressing about this race ...
My Mental Game: Despite the fact that this my favorite race, I really wasn't feeling it going in. I considered taking a DNS on multiple occasions prior to and including race morning. I knew I could run five miles, but I didn't feel like I could race five miles as hard as I would have liked to. And racing without giving it your all doesn't really sit well with me.
Considering that I already didn't feel strongly about this race, I also didn't really care if I had to stop to cough up a lung. Had I felt really prepared heading in, I may have tried harder to run through the cough. Basically, I was just disappointed in where my head was at. However, I did leave feeling like I wanted to up my mileage and get back on track.
The Ugly:
My Cough: I can not stress how bad must have looked along the course. My cough was (and kind of still is) deep and loud. And I was spitting out gunk left and right. I feel bad for anyone who happened to run near me. I am sure they are convinced that they were going to catch some sort of deadly infectious disease.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Seaside Half Marathon ...
Did you ever have a bad run?
Like an "I'd rather be lying dead on the curb than running" kind of run?
Yeah, me too.
It's happened once or twice over the course of the last five years. And although, it's been said that, "You never regret going for a run," I have regretted every single steps of those runs.
Fortunately, I have never experienced a run like that when it really mattered.
Until Sunday.
A few months back, Kim mentioned that she was going to run the Seaside Half Marathon. I instantly wanted to join her (mainly because I love Kim, but also because I grew up 10 minutes from the race location). Initially, it looked like the timing wasn't going to work out, but as luck would have it, we decided to change our Disney travel dates and I would be able to race. And even better, I was able to convince my sister, Gina, to make her half marathon debut at the event.
So, it was set. Gina and I would drive up the day before, meet Kim, Alma and Lisa for dinner, race at the odd start time of 10 a.m., and then drive home afterwards. It was going to be great.
And it was. Until about mile 3.
Dinner was delicious (and likely my downfall).
I slept well that night. And I woke up ready to race.
Anyway, like I said, things were going great until mile 3. I had been on pace to hit my goal, despite the 20 mph headwind. Then I started to feel a stabbing pain in my head. By mile 6, my head was full-on throbbing.
Shortly after mile 7, Kim caught me. Then passed me. I started looking for "ways out." Could I hitch a ride with a spectator? No, there were none. Could I jump on an ambulance? Nope, the only one I had seen was long gone. By mile 8, I was dry heaving on the side of the road. At one point, I noticed a bird lying dead on the road and considered joining him (I am only mildly exaggerating).
Right around mile 10, my nausea subsided slightly and I was able to run briefly. Very briefly. My stomach cramps were making it hard to breathe. It hurt to expand my rib cage. I was seriously considering taking a DNF for the first time ever. But, as I mentioned before, even if I committed to quitting, there was no way to get back other than by my own power, so there was really no point.
Unable to run for more than about a minute at a time, I walked the vast majority of the last three miles. Only in the last two tenths of the race did I even attempt to push the pace (I finished in 2:28:21, in case you were wondering). And I only did that because I knew my mom was waiting at the finish line.
I have never been so happy to finish a run. Ever. Afterwards, I must have looked and been breathing worse than I thought, because my mom tried to get me to go to the medic. I shook her off, as I wasn't about to miss my little sister finish her first half marathon. (Note: She did awesome and although she swears she'll never run another half, I know I can convince her ...)
Honestly, I am not really sure what happened. I'm still not feeling 100%. Maybe I was (and still am) fighting a bug. Maybe, I was wicked dehydrated and I just didn't realize. Maybe my gluten and dairy filled diet in the day prior screwed me over. I don't know. Regardless, this is going down as my worst race ever.
Like an "I'd rather be lying dead on the curb than running" kind of run?
Yeah, me too.
It's happened once or twice over the course of the last five years. And although, it's been said that, "You never regret going for a run," I have regretted every single steps of those runs.
Fortunately, I have never experienced a run like that when it really mattered.
Until Sunday.
A few months back, Kim mentioned that she was going to run the Seaside Half Marathon. I instantly wanted to join her (mainly because I love Kim, but also because I grew up 10 minutes from the race location). Initially, it looked like the timing wasn't going to work out, but as luck would have it, we decided to change our Disney travel dates and I would be able to race. And even better, I was able to convince my sister, Gina, to make her half marathon debut at the event.
So, it was set. Gina and I would drive up the day before, meet Kim, Alma and Lisa for dinner, race at the odd start time of 10 a.m., and then drive home afterwards. It was going to be great.
And it was. Until about mile 3.
Dinner was delicious (and likely my downfall).
 |
| Alma, Lisa, Kim, me and Gina ... |
I slept well that night. And I woke up ready to race.
 |
| Me, Lisa, Kim and Gina. Yes, we coordinated outfits ... |
Anyway, like I said, things were going great until mile 3. I had been on pace to hit my goal, despite the 20 mph headwind. Then I started to feel a stabbing pain in my head. By mile 6, my head was full-on throbbing.
Shortly after mile 7, Kim caught me. Then passed me. I started looking for "ways out." Could I hitch a ride with a spectator? No, there were none. Could I jump on an ambulance? Nope, the only one I had seen was long gone. By mile 8, I was dry heaving on the side of the road. At one point, I noticed a bird lying dead on the road and considered joining him (I am only mildly exaggerating).
Right around mile 10, my nausea subsided slightly and I was able to run briefly. Very briefly. My stomach cramps were making it hard to breathe. It hurt to expand my rib cage. I was seriously considering taking a DNF for the first time ever. But, as I mentioned before, even if I committed to quitting, there was no way to get back other than by my own power, so there was really no point.
Unable to run for more than about a minute at a time, I walked the vast majority of the last three miles. Only in the last two tenths of the race did I even attempt to push the pace (I finished in 2:28:21, in case you were wondering). And I only did that because I knew my mom was waiting at the finish line.
 |
| sucking it up for the cameras ... |
I have never been so happy to finish a run. Ever. Afterwards, I must have looked and been breathing worse than I thought, because my mom tried to get me to go to the medic. I shook her off, as I wasn't about to miss my little sister finish her first half marathon. (Note: She did awesome and although she swears she'll never run another half, I know I can convince her ...)
Honestly, I am not really sure what happened. I'm still not feeling 100%. Maybe I was (and still am) fighting a bug. Maybe, I was wicked dehydrated and I just didn't realize. Maybe my gluten and dairy filled diet in the day prior screwed me over. I don't know. Regardless, this is going down as my worst race ever.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Patriots Sprint Triathlon Recap ..
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Date: 9/9/12
Temperature: 65 degrees @ start
Official Time: 1:39:18
Place in Division: 3/8 (Athena)
Place in Gender: 103/218
Overall Place: 320/532
The Good:
My Mental State: Leading up to this event, I had a lot of mixed feelings. In recent days, I had switched from the Sprint distance to the Half Iron Distance and back to the Sprint and was left questioning whether or not I had made the right decision. It wasn't until the day prior to my race that I was confident that I did the right thing. But, when I woke up on Saturday morning, as my friends raced the Half Iron event, I wasn't jealous. I didn't feel like I was missing out. If anything, I felt relieved. Proof that I was supposed to race the sprint.
The Bike and Run Courses: I absolutely loved the last two legs of this course. The bike was mostly flat (or false flats) with a few gentle rollers. It was totally suited to my giant quads and to my personal preference of not liking to have to haul my 160 lb frame up hills. The run course, as described, was PANCAKE flat. After a slight climb out of transition, we ran an out and back along a bike path. Other than a lack of shade in some sections, it was ideal.
My Bike Speed: Although my bike split indicates a speed of 17.2 mph, I actually averaged 18.7 while moving. The combination of a long run from T1 to bike mount and slick conditions that had me fumbling while clipping in, ate a huge amount of time. Let's just call it as it is: Transition FAIL.
My Run Split: I had two goals heading into the run. First, don't give up. And second, hold the pace I run in training. Having not raced a Sprint in over two years (and even that was a joke), I wasn't sure of the pacing and just wanted to feel strong. There would be no blowing up after the first mile of the run. I was controlled and consistent and I averaged an 8:49 pace - exactly like in training.
Beating the Pain: I'm not really sure that a half Ironman is any more challenging than a Sprint. I think you just approach it differently. Kind of like how a marathon and a 5K can be equal in many respects. When it comes down to it, regardless of distance, you just have to beat the pain. You have to outrun it or silence it or ignore it. I accomplished that on Sunday, something I haven't been able to do in quite some time.
Podium Finish: When I finished racing, I was psyched. I felt good. I raced strong. Then, I found out I finished 3rd in my division. It was just icing on the cake.
The Bad:
Transitions: The transitions in this race were crazy long. A quarter mile run from the swim (thankfully in grass). A considerable run to the bike mount. I know that logistically, it couldn't have been set up any other way, but still ...
Open Bike Course: I know it can be a challenge to completely close roads during a race, but it would have been nice. On two separate occasions, I got caught behind a slow moving vehicle (as in slower than my bike) and couldn't get around. Kind of frustrating considering that a few seconds can make all the difference.
The Ugly:
My Transitions: Um, yeah. For all my training, I really suck at transition. I nearly fell mounting my bike. Perhaps, practice once in a while would help.
The Swim: This open water swim was supposed to be 750m. Not a single person that I talked to clocked less than .6 miles. Personally, I came in at .658, which is 1060m. Thing is, I didn't swim off course. I literally hugged the buoys. Oh, and then there was the chop and the cross-current. Needless to say, the swim wasn't the highlight of my day.
Date: 9/9/12
Temperature: 65 degrees @ start
Official Time: 1:39:18
Place in Division: 3/8 (Athena)
Place in Gender: 103/218
Overall Place: 320/532
The Good:
My Mental State: Leading up to this event, I had a lot of mixed feelings. In recent days, I had switched from the Sprint distance to the Half Iron Distance and back to the Sprint and was left questioning whether or not I had made the right decision. It wasn't until the day prior to my race that I was confident that I did the right thing. But, when I woke up on Saturday morning, as my friends raced the Half Iron event, I wasn't jealous. I didn't feel like I was missing out. If anything, I felt relieved. Proof that I was supposed to race the sprint.
 |
| post-race glow ... |
The Bike and Run Courses: I absolutely loved the last two legs of this course. The bike was mostly flat (or false flats) with a few gentle rollers. It was totally suited to my giant quads and to my personal preference of not liking to have to haul my 160 lb frame up hills. The run course, as described, was PANCAKE flat. After a slight climb out of transition, we ran an out and back along a bike path. Other than a lack of shade in some sections, it was ideal.
My Bike Speed: Although my bike split indicates a speed of 17.2 mph, I actually averaged 18.7 while moving. The combination of a long run from T1 to bike mount and slick conditions that had me fumbling while clipping in, ate a huge amount of time. Let's just call it as it is: Transition FAIL.
My Run Split: I had two goals heading into the run. First, don't give up. And second, hold the pace I run in training. Having not raced a Sprint in over two years (and even that was a joke), I wasn't sure of the pacing and just wanted to feel strong. There would be no blowing up after the first mile of the run. I was controlled and consistent and I averaged an 8:49 pace - exactly like in training.
Beating the Pain: I'm not really sure that a half Ironman is any more challenging than a Sprint. I think you just approach it differently. Kind of like how a marathon and a 5K can be equal in many respects. When it comes down to it, regardless of distance, you just have to beat the pain. You have to outrun it or silence it or ignore it. I accomplished that on Sunday, something I haven't been able to do in quite some time.
Podium Finish: When I finished racing, I was psyched. I felt good. I raced strong. Then, I found out I finished 3rd in my division. It was just icing on the cake.
 |
| yes, I realize none of us really look like Athenas ... |
 |
| Awards ... |
The Bad:
Transitions: The transitions in this race were crazy long. A quarter mile run from the swim (thankfully in grass). A considerable run to the bike mount. I know that logistically, it couldn't have been set up any other way, but still ...
Open Bike Course: I know it can be a challenge to completely close roads during a race, but it would have been nice. On two separate occasions, I got caught behind a slow moving vehicle (as in slower than my bike) and couldn't get around. Kind of frustrating considering that a few seconds can make all the difference.
The Ugly:
My Transitions: Um, yeah. For all my training, I really suck at transition. I nearly fell mounting my bike. Perhaps, practice once in a while would help.
The Swim: This open water swim was supposed to be 750m. Not a single person that I talked to clocked less than .6 miles. Personally, I came in at .658, which is 1060m. Thing is, I didn't swim off course. I literally hugged the buoys. Oh, and then there was the chop and the cross-current. Needless to say, the swim wasn't the highlight of my day.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Three Things Thursday ...
Graduation - Today is Doodle's last day of preschool and tonight is her graduation ceremony.
I know that we have been talking about her going to Kindergarten for months, but I can't help but think that this year just flew by. Who am I kidding? The last five years flew by. Before I know it, Dilly is going to be headed to Kindergarten too ...
Swimtastic - I've been doing a lot of shorter intervals during my swims recently, so I decided that I was going to do a two-mile endurance swim this morning. I was slightly apprehensive heading in, as 128 laps is just crazy talk, but I crushed it.
Mile 1: 32:59
Mile 2: 33:59
In case you are struggling with math this morning, that's two miles in 1:06:58. Three minutes and thirty seconds faster than I swam it in early March. I'm feeling kind of rockstar.
ZOOMA - Tomorrow morning I am headed to Annapolis to work the Tough Chik booth at the ZOOMA Annapolis Half Marathon and 10K. While I am not running, several of my friends (mostly bloggers) are and I can't wait to see them all and cheer them on. And if you happen to be running, please stop by the booth and say hi.
And if you haven't run a ZOOMA event before, I highly recommend that you do. These women-only event are empowering, supportive and the perfect excuse for a girls' weekend. Plus, the ZOOMA Race Series was developed by three running mothers. How cool is that? You can learn all about them HERE.
 |
| an accurate depiction of her current excitement level ... |
Mile 1: 32:59
Mile 2: 33:59
In case you are struggling with math this morning, that's two miles in 1:06:58. Three minutes and thirty seconds faster than I swam it in early March. I'm feeling kind of rockstar.
ZOOMA - Tomorrow morning I am headed to Annapolis to work the Tough Chik booth at the ZOOMA Annapolis Half Marathon and 10K. While I am not running, several of my friends (mostly bloggers) are and I can't wait to see them all and cheer them on. And if you happen to be running, please stop by the booth and say hi.
And if you haven't run a ZOOMA event before, I highly recommend that you do. These women-only event are empowering, supportive and the perfect excuse for a girls' weekend. Plus, the ZOOMA Race Series was developed by three running mothers. How cool is that? You can learn all about them HERE.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Cap2Cap Half Century Recap ...
Location: Richmond, VA
Date: 5/13/12
Weather: 60's, sunny, windy
Unofficial Distance/Time: 52 miles in 3:04:48
Overall Experience: I have never done a group ride like this before, so I didn't know quite what to expect. And although I was rather apprehensive heading into it, I was pleasantly surprised. Everything from packet pickup to the post-ride festivities were top notch. The course was fantastic and well supported. I can not speak highly enough about my Cap2Cap experience.
The Course: The event directors at Cap2Cap did a fantastic job at making this event accessible to even the most beginning of rider. With course options of 15, 25, 50 and 100 miles, as well as two start locations (Rocketts Landing in Richmond and Williamsburg), you would be hard pressed to not to find an event that fits your ability.
In addition to being accessible to many levels of riders, the course was absolutely fantastic. Gentle rollers greeted riders as they traveled through the City of Richmond, Henrico and Charles City counties. Three feed zones along the way allowed the participants to rest and refuel as needed. Scenic views lined the course, allowing me to experience parts of Virginia that I may have not otherwise. And while I can only speak of the Half Century route from Rocketts Landing, I am confident that the other routes were equally as impressive.
MPH: Although our average speed was 16.9 mph, we were met with several hiccups in the first few miles, thus we rode much of the course at a significantly faster pace. On the flats, Sally and I were hovering between 20 and 22 mph and I couldn't help but think how easy it felt. It provided reassurance that all those hours on the trainer are paying off.
Support/Community: Do you know what will bring me back to even the most challenging of experiences? A well-run and well-supported event, and Cap2Cap provided exactly that. Every single aspect of this ride was top notch. In addition, the volunteers made it thoroughly enjoyable as they treated every single rider as if they were out there moving mountains. The support and sense of community alone was enough to convince me to do this ride again.
Post-Ride Festival: Upon entering the finishing area, riders were greeted with music, food (including a TON of baked goods), booths and beer.
Had I not had things to get back to, I could have hung out there for hours.
Finishing: Is there anything better than finishing a workout like that? No. I didn't think so.
And I'm sure you can tell from the smiles on our faces, just how much fun we had.
The Bad:
Cliptastrophe: Around mile 24, Sally and I came to an intersection. We unclipped. I stepped down. Then it happened and there was nothing I could do about it. Sally went to step down and as I watched, her bike slid out from under her while her other foot was still clipped in. She wiped out. Fortunately, she was fine. A few scrapes and a bruised ego, but fine. (Note: I only mention this because she told people on the ride that I was going to write about it. So, I am. Lucky for her, there was no video footage.)
The Ugly:
The Start: So, if you don't know, I have a few fears about my bike. Here they are in no specific order:
From the start line, riders headed out about 50 yards and made a quick left around a circle. Lots of people. Not a lot of room. Doesn't work for me.
So, Sally and I hung back, we let pretty much every one else get ahead of us and then we left. About a block after we started, we were barely pedaling. The mass start had congested the road so much that we couldn't get through. For what seemed like an eternity, we were going 10 mph. It was insane. And frustrating. So much so, that we were cursing ourselves for even showing up.
About two miles in, we moved to open roads and should have been riding single file, something which eluded many of the people there. If we were able to get around one person/group, we were quickly met with another group riding three or four wide, making it unsafe and nearly impossible to get around. It was rough. Fortunately, by about mile 9, and definitely by the first feed zone at mile 12.4, the crowds had cleared enough to allow us to ride comfortably.
Date: 5/13/12
Weather: 60's, sunny, windy
Unofficial Distance/Time: 52 miles in 3:04:48
The Good:
Overall Experience: I have never done a group ride like this before, so I didn't know quite what to expect. And although I was rather apprehensive heading into it, I was pleasantly surprised. Everything from packet pickup to the post-ride festivities were top notch. The course was fantastic and well supported. I can not speak highly enough about my Cap2Cap experience.
The Course: The event directors at Cap2Cap did a fantastic job at making this event accessible to even the most beginning of rider. With course options of 15, 25, 50 and 100 miles, as well as two start locations (Rocketts Landing in Richmond and Williamsburg), you would be hard pressed to not to find an event that fits your ability.
In addition to being accessible to many levels of riders, the course was absolutely fantastic. Gentle rollers greeted riders as they traveled through the City of Richmond, Henrico and Charles City counties. Three feed zones along the way allowed the participants to rest and refuel as needed. Scenic views lined the course, allowing me to experience parts of Virginia that I may have not otherwise. And while I can only speak of the Half Century route from Rocketts Landing, I am confident that the other routes were equally as impressive.
MPH: Although our average speed was 16.9 mph, we were met with several hiccups in the first few miles, thus we rode much of the course at a significantly faster pace. On the flats, Sally and I were hovering between 20 and 22 mph and I couldn't help but think how easy it felt. It provided reassurance that all those hours on the trainer are paying off.
Support/Community: Do you know what will bring me back to even the most challenging of experiences? A well-run and well-supported event, and Cap2Cap provided exactly that. Every single aspect of this ride was top notch. In addition, the volunteers made it thoroughly enjoyable as they treated every single rider as if they were out there moving mountains. The support and sense of community alone was enough to convince me to do this ride again.
Post-Ride Festival: Upon entering the finishing area, riders were greeted with music, food (including a TON of baked goods), booths and beer.
 |
| Just a glimpse of the post ride festivities ... |
Had I not had things to get back to, I could have hung out there for hours.
Finishing: Is there anything better than finishing a workout like that? No. I didn't think so.
 |
| Sally and I post ride. It was her first 50 miler ... |
And I'm sure you can tell from the smiles on our faces, just how much fun we had.
The Bad:
Cliptastrophe: Around mile 24, Sally and I came to an intersection. We unclipped. I stepped down. Then it happened and there was nothing I could do about it. Sally went to step down and as I watched, her bike slid out from under her while her other foot was still clipped in. She wiped out. Fortunately, she was fine. A few scrapes and a bruised ego, but fine. (Note: I only mention this because she told people on the ride that I was going to write about it. So, I am. Lucky for her, there was no video footage.)
The Ugly:
The Start: So, if you don't know, I have a few fears about my bike. Here they are in no specific order:
- Crashing and dying.
- Crashing and never being able to compete again.
- Riding in groups.
- Speed when going down hill.
- Speed when turning.
From the start line, riders headed out about 50 yards and made a quick left around a circle. Lots of people. Not a lot of room. Doesn't work for me.
So, Sally and I hung back, we let pretty much every one else get ahead of us and then we left. About a block after we started, we were barely pedaling. The mass start had congested the road so much that we couldn't get through. For what seemed like an eternity, we were going 10 mph. It was insane. And frustrating. So much so, that we were cursing ourselves for even showing up.
About two miles in, we moved to open roads and should have been riding single file, something which eluded many of the people there. If we were able to get around one person/group, we were quickly met with another group riding three or four wide, making it unsafe and nearly impossible to get around. It was rough. Fortunately, by about mile 9, and definitely by the first feed zone at mile 12.4, the crowds had cleared enough to allow us to ride comfortably.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Ironman 70.3 Texas Recap ...
Location: Galveston, TX
Date: 4/1/12
Temperature: mid 70's @ start, 80 degrees @ finish
Official Time: 6:39:39
Swim Time: 48:55 (2:31/100m)
T1: 4:21
Bike Time: 3:17:31 (17.01 mph)
T2: 3:07
Run Time: 2:25:45 (11:07 pace)
Place in Age Group (30-34): 73/112
Place in Gender: 414/760
Overall Place: 1699/2670
Racing with a Friend: When I first decided to race a 70.3, I knew I needed support. My solution - get a friend to race with me. Thankfully, I was able to convince one of my best friends, Heidi, to come along for the ride.
She trained in Texas. I trained here in Virginia. We met up for the race. And it was awesome. I can't express how grateful I am to have had her by my side (or in front of me, since she's wicked fast - she finished in 5:46). We had fun from beginning to end and despite the pain, we are already working on our future race plans.
The Bike: To be completely honest, I was a little scared that all of my miles on the trainer were not going to translate to the road and that I was going to blow up on the bike. But, fortunately, the course was so pancake flat that other than a serious headwind on the way out, this ride was just like my trainer sessions. Three hours and 15 minutes of non-stop pedaling.
After a rough start, which included that headwind and a bathroom break at mile 13, I kicked it into overdrive on the second half of the bike, negative splitting by 13 minutes in the last 28 miles. And I even rode in aero position for most of the second half. A huge deal considering I had NEVER gotten into the aero bars on the road before.
Nutrition: This is one area I feel that I really did well. Three hours prior to the race, I had a bowl of oatmeal and a banana, coffee and Nuun. 45 minutes out, I had a Luna Protein Bar. After the swim, a Honey Stinger Waffle. During the bike, four Chocolate Outrage GUs. Followed by another Honey Stinger Waffle in T2 and two more GUs during the run. It seemed to work for me and I never felt hungry or low energy. Maybe poorly hydrated, but that's a different story.
Strippers: No, not that kind of stripper. The wetsuit removal kind. Wiggle out of the top of your wetsuit, lay on the ground and two people rip it off you. Best thing ever.
The Bling: Just awesome.
The Swim: Prior to this race, I had never swam in open water. I had never been in a mass start. And I had never attempted to remove my wetsuit with any sort of speed. Needless to say, I was kind of freaking out at the start, even if I was doing my best to hide it.
I knew that on the perfect day, I could probably finish the swim in 45 minutes. About 30 seconds after the gun, I realized that it wasn't the perfect day. The mass start and open water kind of overwhelmed me. I was flailing. I swam with my head up. I swam backstroke. I swam breaststroke. I swam off course. I swallowed salt water.
It wasn't until 38 minutes in (I checked my watch) that I found my groove and cruised into transition. It was actually quite frustrating. Once I was swimming normally, I wanted to kick myself for getting so worked up. Later, I was shocked to learn I had only missed my "perfect day" time by about 4 minutes.
Hydration: In case you forgot, I am mildly freaked out by my bike. I am almost always certain that I am going to crash. Because of this, I was not brave enough to grab a replacement water bottle at the aid stations along the bike course. That meant I had 42 oz of water on the bike with me and once it was gone, it was gone - no matter how hot it was.
Right before I hit the mile 50 marker, I finished the last of my Nuun. 20 minutes left on the bike and nothing left to drink. Despite being very well hydrated heading into the event, those 42 oz of fluid were not enough to hydrate me during the first four hours of the race and I was so parched heading into the run. It was kind of a recipe for disaster.
The Run Course: Three 4.4ish mile loops. In direct sunlight. On an airstrip. Pure torture.
Signage: Although this was a very well run event entirely worth the $250 price tag, the pre-race (i.e. athlete check in/expo) was kind of a cluster. There was a severe lack of signage and we found ourselves wondering around quite a bit. A couple of big arrows would have been killer.
The Run: Although I finished the run in 2:25:45, well within in the 2:10-2:30 window that I anticipated, it was rough. Right from the start, I knew I was dehydrated and my legs didn't have the power that I needed. So, I made a deal with myself - run one minute, walk one minute. I knew that as long as I just kept moving I'd finish. Sure, I wanted it to be over as soon as possible, but I gave it everything I had on that day.
Of course, as I sit here now, I can say, "Maybe if it wasn't so hot. Maybe if I had drank more on the bike. Maybe if I didn't push it so hard on the second half of the bike." There are a million "what ifs". But, I own that 2:25:45. I kept going when I really wanted to stop. And now, I have a mark to beat.
The Aftermath: Between the sunburn and muscle soreness, post race (and the last two days) has been ugly. I'm hobbling around. I'm short-tempered. I'm tired. But I don't really care, it was freaking awesome and I can't wait to do it again.
Date: 4/1/12
Temperature: mid 70's @ start, 80 degrees @ finish
Official Time: 6:39:39
Swim Time: 48:55 (2:31/100m)
T1: 4:21
Bike Time: 3:17:31 (17.01 mph)
T2: 3:07
Run Time: 2:25:45 (11:07 pace)
Place in Age Group (30-34): 73/112
Place in Gender: 414/760
Overall Place: 1699/2670
The Good:
Racing with a Friend: When I first decided to race a 70.3, I knew I needed support. My solution - get a friend to race with me. Thankfully, I was able to convince one of my best friends, Heidi, to come along for the ride.
 |
| Athlete Check In |
 |
| Trying to stay cool |
 |
| At the athlete briefing |
 |
| Goofing around waiting for Lance to arrive |
 |
| Just before heading to the start |
The Bike: To be completely honest, I was a little scared that all of my miles on the trainer were not going to translate to the road and that I was going to blow up on the bike. But, fortunately, the course was so pancake flat that other than a serious headwind on the way out, this ride was just like my trainer sessions. Three hours and 15 minutes of non-stop pedaling.
 |
| Heading out from T1 |
After a rough start, which included that headwind and a bathroom break at mile 13, I kicked it into overdrive on the second half of the bike, negative splitting by 13 minutes in the last 28 miles. And I even rode in aero position for most of the second half. A huge deal considering I had NEVER gotten into the aero bars on the road before.
Nutrition: This is one area I feel that I really did well. Three hours prior to the race, I had a bowl of oatmeal and a banana, coffee and Nuun. 45 minutes out, I had a Luna Protein Bar. After the swim, a Honey Stinger Waffle. During the bike, four Chocolate Outrage GUs. Followed by another Honey Stinger Waffle in T2 and two more GUs during the run. It seemed to work for me and I never felt hungry or low energy. Maybe poorly hydrated, but that's a different story.
Strippers: No, not that kind of stripper. The wetsuit removal kind. Wiggle out of the top of your wetsuit, lay on the ground and two people rip it off you. Best thing ever.
The Bling: Just awesome.
The Bad:
The Swim: Prior to this race, I had never swam in open water. I had never been in a mass start. And I had never attempted to remove my wetsuit with any sort of speed. Needless to say, I was kind of freaking out at the start, even if I was doing my best to hide it.
I knew that on the perfect day, I could probably finish the swim in 45 minutes. About 30 seconds after the gun, I realized that it wasn't the perfect day. The mass start and open water kind of overwhelmed me. I was flailing. I swam with my head up. I swam backstroke. I swam breaststroke. I swam off course. I swallowed salt water.
It wasn't until 38 minutes in (I checked my watch) that I found my groove and cruised into transition. It was actually quite frustrating. Once I was swimming normally, I wanted to kick myself for getting so worked up. Later, I was shocked to learn I had only missed my "perfect day" time by about 4 minutes.
 |
| coming into T1 (Ignore the finger in the shot) |
Hydration: In case you forgot, I am mildly freaked out by my bike. I am almost always certain that I am going to crash. Because of this, I was not brave enough to grab a replacement water bottle at the aid stations along the bike course. That meant I had 42 oz of water on the bike with me and once it was gone, it was gone - no matter how hot it was.
Right before I hit the mile 50 marker, I finished the last of my Nuun. 20 minutes left on the bike and nothing left to drink. Despite being very well hydrated heading into the event, those 42 oz of fluid were not enough to hydrate me during the first four hours of the race and I was so parched heading into the run. It was kind of a recipe for disaster.
The Run Course: Three 4.4ish mile loops. In direct sunlight. On an airstrip. Pure torture.
Signage: Although this was a very well run event entirely worth the $250 price tag, the pre-race (i.e. athlete check in/expo) was kind of a cluster. There was a severe lack of signage and we found ourselves wondering around quite a bit. A couple of big arrows would have been killer.
The Ugly:
The Run: Although I finished the run in 2:25:45, well within in the 2:10-2:30 window that I anticipated, it was rough. Right from the start, I knew I was dehydrated and my legs didn't have the power that I needed. So, I made a deal with myself - run one minute, walk one minute. I knew that as long as I just kept moving I'd finish. Sure, I wanted it to be over as soon as possible, but I gave it everything I had on that day.
Of course, as I sit here now, I can say, "Maybe if it wasn't so hot. Maybe if I had drank more on the bike. Maybe if I didn't push it so hard on the second half of the bike." There are a million "what ifs". But, I own that 2:25:45. I kept going when I really wanted to stop. And now, I have a mark to beat.
The Aftermath: Between the sunburn and muscle soreness, post race (and the last two days) has been ugly. I'm hobbling around. I'm short-tempered. I'm tired. But I don't really care, it was freaking awesome and I can't wait to do it again.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Princess Half Marathon Recap
Location: Orlando, FL
Date: 2/26/12
Temperature: mid 50's @ start
Official Time: 1:59:26 (9:07 pace)
Garmin Time: 1:59:26 for 13.26 (9:00 pace)
Place in Age Group (30-34): 191/2473 (top 16.6%)
Overall Place: 949/15803 (top 12.9%)
Goals Accomplished: This race fell right in the middle of my Half Ironman training, which meant no taper and no attempt at racing for a PR. Instead, I set the following goals.
First, look fantastic. CHECK
Second, have fun. CHECK - I mean really, it's Disney. Who doesn't have fun at Disney?
My Race Strategy: I decided before the race that I wasn't going to pay attention to my watch. I was going to run based on feel and the second I stopped enjoying the run, I was going to slow down. And I did just that. I ran the first seven miles harder than the last five, simply because I felt like I'd have more fun if I stopped pushing the pace. I sang along with every song on my iPod. And I tried to take in all of the entertainment on the course. It was awesome.
The Atmosphere: If you've never run a Disney race, then it might be hard to understand the atmosphere that surrounds a runDisney event. It's like all the favorite things about your childhood crammed into 13.1 (or 26.2) miles. It's an invitation to have fun. And it's the perfect excuse to act like a kid.
Plus, running through Cinderella's Castle is going to make any girl feel like a princess.
The Weather: Although, my personal preference for a race temperature is somewhere around 38 degrees, this race fell on a "textbook perfect" weather day for a runner - Mid 50's and overcast. I'm pretty sure no one was complaining about the conditions.
Meetups: Not only does Disney host events like runDisney Social Media Meetups and Race Retreats (think VIP treatment pre and post-race for around $100), but their events serve as the ultimate destination race for families. This usually means I know someone (or a lot of someones) who are attending. This year was no different. I ran into and/or spent time with a handful of my favorite blogging friends. But, unfortunately, failed to take a single picture.
Outfit Fail: Although I tested my outfit for chafing prior to the race, I did not test the adhesive on the eyeball. I just figured it would work. But, three miles and a little sweat later, I was blind. Or my shirt was blind. Either way, they eyeball fell off and I was transformed into the Green Devil instead of Mike Wazowski.
The Corrals: I first ran the Disney Princess Half in 2010. That year there were 8,000 runners. This year, there were nearly twice that amount. And while Disney does a great job with wave starts, including fireworks for EVERY wave, they are falling behind on getting everyone to the start.
In order to get to your corral, you must walk close to a mile. In years past, this walk took around 20 minutes. This year, it took 40. I walked into Corral A as they were closing it. Had I stopped to go to the bathroom, I would have missed the start. Perhaps, a wave start for the walk to the corrals is in order?
The Expo: Now don't get me wrong, I love an expo. But, despite the organization of bib pick-up, the expo is always a cluster. Overcrowded and hard to navigate (especially with three small children in tow). With all the property Disney owns, you'd think they could find a larger space to hold the event.
What ugly? Disney doesn't do ugly.
Date: 2/26/12
Temperature: mid 50's @ start
Official Time: 1:59:26 (9:07 pace)
Garmin Time: 1:59:26 for 13.26 (9:00 pace)
Place in Age Group (30-34): 191/2473 (top 16.6%)
Overall Place: 949/15803 (top 12.9%)
The Good:
Goals Accomplished: This race fell right in the middle of my Half Ironman training, which meant no taper and no attempt at racing for a PR. Instead, I set the following goals.
First, look fantastic. CHECK
 | |
| Even without the eyeball, I know how to work it. |
My Race Strategy: I decided before the race that I wasn't going to pay attention to my watch. I was going to run based on feel and the second I stopped enjoying the run, I was going to slow down. And I did just that. I ran the first seven miles harder than the last five, simply because I felt like I'd have more fun if I stopped pushing the pace. I sang along with every song on my iPod. And I tried to take in all of the entertainment on the course. It was awesome.
The Atmosphere: If you've never run a Disney race, then it might be hard to understand the atmosphere that surrounds a runDisney event. It's like all the favorite things about your childhood crammed into 13.1 (or 26.2) miles. It's an invitation to have fun. And it's the perfect excuse to act like a kid.
 |
| Always my favorite part of runDisney races ... |
Plus, running through Cinderella's Castle is going to make any girl feel like a princess.
The Weather: Although, my personal preference for a race temperature is somewhere around 38 degrees, this race fell on a "textbook perfect" weather day for a runner - Mid 50's and overcast. I'm pretty sure no one was complaining about the conditions.
Meetups: Not only does Disney host events like runDisney Social Media Meetups and Race Retreats (think VIP treatment pre and post-race for around $100), but their events serve as the ultimate destination race for families. This usually means I know someone (or a lot of someones) who are attending. This year was no different. I ran into and/or spent time with a handful of my favorite blogging friends. But, unfortunately, failed to take a single picture.
The Bad:
Outfit Fail: Although I tested my outfit for chafing prior to the race, I did not test the adhesive on the eyeball. I just figured it would work. But, three miles and a little sweat later, I was blind. Or my shirt was blind. Either way, they eyeball fell off and I was transformed into the Green Devil instead of Mike Wazowski.
The Corrals: I first ran the Disney Princess Half in 2010. That year there were 8,000 runners. This year, there were nearly twice that amount. And while Disney does a great job with wave starts, including fireworks for EVERY wave, they are falling behind on getting everyone to the start.
In order to get to your corral, you must walk close to a mile. In years past, this walk took around 20 minutes. This year, it took 40. I walked into Corral A as they were closing it. Had I stopped to go to the bathroom, I would have missed the start. Perhaps, a wave start for the walk to the corrals is in order?
The Expo: Now don't get me wrong, I love an expo. But, despite the organization of bib pick-up, the expo is always a cluster. Overcrowded and hard to navigate (especially with three small children in tow). With all the property Disney owns, you'd think they could find a larger space to hold the event.
The Ugly:
What ugly? Disney doesn't do ugly.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Richmond Marathon Recap ...
Location: Richmond, VA
Date: 11/12/11
Temperature: upper 30's @ start, sunny
Official Time: 4:12:52 (9:39 pace)
Garmin Time: 4:12:55 for 26.42 miles (9:34 pace), 2:56 PR
Place in Age Group (25-29): 98/281
Place in Gender: 562/1647
Overall Place: 1716/3787
The Good:
Pre-race Fun - From bagels on Friday morning ...
to the expo on Friday afternoon ...
to carb-loading on Friday night ...
marathon excitement was EVERYWHERE.
The Outfits - G, Pixie Green and I looked epic. As always.
No Pressure - There is something about running two marathons in six days that kind of takes away all the pressure from the second race. I knew that regardless of how fast (or slow) I ran, I could boast about the quick turnaround. And knowing that, somehow made it easier to run a consistent race.
The Course - I love this course. It's scenic and beautiful and the downhill finish is enough of a reason to run it over and over. But as a member of the Marathon Training Team (MTT), I ran the course so often that I knew it like the back of my hand. Talk about an advantage on race day. No surprises. No mental games. Just 26.2 miles and me.
Sub-2 Half - From the start, my goal for this race was to run with whoever I started with for as long as possible and then just finish, even if I walked the rest. I lost G pretty much in the first 10 feet of the race, but I was running with Jess and her sister Jodi (they both ran MCM two weeks prior).
We just decided to run whatever felt good. And somehow, as we approached the half marathon mark, we noticed that we were just going to break two hours (we crossed in 1:59:20) and that alone made the race a success for me.
PR Baby - Not exactly sure how it happened, but 6 days after running the NYC Marathon and missing a PR by 8 seconds, I finished this race with a 2:56 PR. It was awesome. However, I kind of wish my plan of "run a strong first half and then have fun with the second half", wasn't the plan I executed. When I caught G at mile 15.5, I decided I was just going to stick with her. Then she left me. And then I caught her again. It wasn't until mile 23 or so, that I realized that even with my eased pace in the second half, that a PR was going to happen for sure. Maybe I should have picked it up sooner.
The Last 2 Miles - Once I realized a PR was in the bag, I was re-energized. Add that to the fact that most of the last two miles are downhill and I was feeling unstoppable. Seriously. This is me at mile 25.5, looks like it could have been mile 1.5.
GBA - Like usual, our run group rocked it on Saturday. I'm proud of each and everyone of them. But, I am especially proud to be associated with G (who ran through illness), KC (who PR'd with a sub-4) and 3L (who BQ'd in her marathon debut). I love these ladies and am honored to have them in my life.
The Bad:
Un-GU'd - Although I started the race with four GUs attached to my race belt, all but one of them fell off while I was shedding layers in the early miles. Total Spi-Belt fail.
Photo-Op - As a member of MTT, we were scheduled to take a team picture at 7 a.m., one hour prior to the race start. Most days, that would be no big deal, but it was cold on Saturday. I arrived at 6:30 a.m. and by the time the race started, I couldn't feel any of my toes. And the worst part, you can't see me (or anyone I know) in the picture anyway.
The Ugly:
Wind - As you approached mile 24, a place I like to refer to as the "Lombardy Suckfest", runners were greeted with headwinds so strong that they threw you back a little. Not the time in the race to have a physical barrier like that.
Date: 11/12/11
Temperature: upper 30's @ start, sunny
Official Time: 4:12:52 (9:39 pace)
Garmin Time: 4:12:55 for 26.42 miles (9:34 pace), 2:56 PR
Place in Age Group (25-29): 98/281
Place in Gender: 562/1647
Overall Place: 1716/3787
The Good:
Pre-race Fun - From bagels on Friday morning ...
to the expo on Friday afternoon ...
to carb-loading on Friday night ...
marathon excitement was EVERYWHERE.The Outfits - G, Pixie Green and I looked epic. As always.
No Pressure - There is something about running two marathons in six days that kind of takes away all the pressure from the second race. I knew that regardless of how fast (or slow) I ran, I could boast about the quick turnaround. And knowing that, somehow made it easier to run a consistent race.The Course - I love this course. It's scenic and beautiful and the downhill finish is enough of a reason to run it over and over. But as a member of the Marathon Training Team (MTT), I ran the course so often that I knew it like the back of my hand. Talk about an advantage on race day. No surprises. No mental games. Just 26.2 miles and me.
Sub-2 Half - From the start, my goal for this race was to run with whoever I started with for as long as possible and then just finish, even if I walked the rest. I lost G pretty much in the first 10 feet of the race, but I was running with Jess and her sister Jodi (they both ran MCM two weeks prior).
We just decided to run whatever felt good. And somehow, as we approached the half marathon mark, we noticed that we were just going to break two hours (we crossed in 1:59:20) and that alone made the race a success for me.
PR Baby - Not exactly sure how it happened, but 6 days after running the NYC Marathon and missing a PR by 8 seconds, I finished this race with a 2:56 PR. It was awesome. However, I kind of wish my plan of "run a strong first half and then have fun with the second half", wasn't the plan I executed. When I caught G at mile 15.5, I decided I was just going to stick with her. Then she left me. And then I caught her again. It wasn't until mile 23 or so, that I realized that even with my eased pace in the second half, that a PR was going to happen for sure. Maybe I should have picked it up sooner.
The Last 2 Miles - Once I realized a PR was in the bag, I was re-energized. Add that to the fact that most of the last two miles are downhill and I was feeling unstoppable. Seriously. This is me at mile 25.5, looks like it could have been mile 1.5.
GBA - Like usual, our run group rocked it on Saturday. I'm proud of each and everyone of them. But, I am especially proud to be associated with G (who ran through illness), KC (who PR'd with a sub-4) and 3L (who BQ'd in her marathon debut). I love these ladies and am honored to have them in my life.
The Bad:Un-GU'd - Although I started the race with four GUs attached to my race belt, all but one of them fell off while I was shedding layers in the early miles. Total Spi-Belt fail.
Photo-Op - As a member of MTT, we were scheduled to take a team picture at 7 a.m., one hour prior to the race start. Most days, that would be no big deal, but it was cold on Saturday. I arrived at 6:30 a.m. and by the time the race started, I couldn't feel any of my toes. And the worst part, you can't see me (or anyone I know) in the picture anyway.
The Ugly:
Wind - As you approached mile 24, a place I like to refer to as the "Lombardy Suckfest", runners were greeted with headwinds so strong that they threw you back a little. Not the time in the race to have a physical barrier like that.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
NYC Marathon Recap ...
Location: New York, NY
Date: 11/6/11
Temperature: 52 degrees
Official Time: 4:15:56 (9:47 pace)
Garmin Time: 4:15:58 for 26.86 miles (9:31 pace)
Place in Age Group (25-29): 964/2818
Place in Gender: 5183/16928
Overall Place: 20701/46795
The Good:
The Outfit - Epic, as always.
The Swag - 
Not only was the medal great (love the skyline) and the shirt actually something I would wear, as a member of Team Grassroot Soccer, I was given loads of great swag, including a team uniform furnished by Nike (tee, long sleeve top, capris and shoe laces), compression tights from 2XU, more SoyJoy bars and Muscle Milk than I will ever consume and of course, some Bengay for post-race recovery.
Meeting up with friends/bloggers/celebrities - As you know, Ethan Zohn is a co-founder of Grassroot Soccer and joined us on the marathon team.
But what you might not realize is that five other cast members from this season of the Amazing Race were on our team, as well as, former Survivors, Anthony Sullivan (of infomercial fame, he also made the name tag for my race shirt) and Aaron Scheidies, a 70.3 paratriathlon World Champion.
(the creation of my name tag)
While in NYC, I was also able to catch up with Kim, my Nuun Platuun vanmate, Melody, Miss Zippy and Molly.
The Course Support - I'm sure that if you know anything about the NYC Marathon, it's that the course support is awesome. And it is. There is never a moment when you are alone. Someone is always cheering for you. Pushing you. It is an amazing feeling and reason alone to run this race.
A new half PR - I raced the first 16 miles of this race perfectly. I was right where I wanted to be and when I crossed the mat at the half split, I set a new PR of 1:56:18. That right there, made my race for me. I felt great at that point and I know I can crush the half distance. But do I get to count this one?
No Wall - As much as my legs died over the last 8 miles or so, I never hit the wall. I didn't want someone to drag my body off the course. And I didn't want to stop. Some days you just don't have enough, I may have had legs of lead, but my head was strong.
Post-race logistics - Although the runners were funneled out of Central Park on what seemed like a mile long path, the finish line area was super organized. Every runner received a space blanket, medal and bag full of food. Easy and efficient.
Not Seeing my Mom - My mom doesn't live nearby, so she rarely gets to see me race. Fortunately, she does live close to NYC, so she and my aunt were able to come see me run. They were stationed near the 25 mile marker and although, I never saw them, they saw me. And knowing they were in the crowd (and that I would get to celebrate with them post-race) was awesome.
The Bad:
The Course - I loved this course and I hated this course. It is truly awesome to run through all five boroughs, but the bridges are KILLER and the last six miles are pretty much uphill at just enough of an incline to drain your legs. By mile 25, I was wishing for the downhill finish of the Richmond Marathon.
Crowds - The course was so congested with runners that I found myself doing a lot of weaving, right up until the finish. Due to this, I ran .66 longer than 26.2, a total bummer since I missed a PR by only 8 SECONDS.
8 seconds - Did I mention I missed a PR by 8 seconds? How about the fact that I lapped my watch at 26.2 and it read 4:09:16? Yeah, I'm a little bit bitter about that.
Weather - I know that 52 degrees and sunny sounds like perfect conditions to run in, but honestly, it was too hot for my liking. I would have much preferred 42 degrees, as I was crazy hot any time I wasn't in the shade, which was pretty much all the time.
The Ugly:
The Queensboro Bridge - At mile 16, this is the steepest climb on the course. It was also the only time I recall there being any wind. It was brutal. I'd like to erase that bridge from my memory.
Date: 11/6/11
Temperature: 52 degrees
Official Time: 4:15:56 (9:47 pace)
Garmin Time: 4:15:58 for 26.86 miles (9:31 pace)
Place in Age Group (25-29): 964/2818
Place in Gender: 5183/16928
Overall Place: 20701/46795
The Good:
The Outfit - Epic, as always.
The Swag - 
Not only was the medal great (love the skyline) and the shirt actually something I would wear, as a member of Team Grassroot Soccer, I was given loads of great swag, including a team uniform furnished by Nike (tee, long sleeve top, capris and shoe laces), compression tights from 2XU, more SoyJoy bars and Muscle Milk than I will ever consume and of course, some Bengay for post-race recovery.Meeting up with friends/bloggers/celebrities - As you know, Ethan Zohn is a co-founder of Grassroot Soccer and joined us on the marathon team.
But what you might not realize is that five other cast members from this season of the Amazing Race were on our team, as well as, former Survivors, Anthony Sullivan (of infomercial fame, he also made the name tag for my race shirt) and Aaron Scheidies, a 70.3 paratriathlon World Champion.
(the creation of my name tag)While in NYC, I was also able to catch up with Kim, my Nuun Platuun vanmate, Melody, Miss Zippy and Molly.
The Course Support - I'm sure that if you know anything about the NYC Marathon, it's that the course support is awesome. And it is. There is never a moment when you are alone. Someone is always cheering for you. Pushing you. It is an amazing feeling and reason alone to run this race.A new half PR - I raced the first 16 miles of this race perfectly. I was right where I wanted to be and when I crossed the mat at the half split, I set a new PR of 1:56:18. That right there, made my race for me. I felt great at that point and I know I can crush the half distance. But do I get to count this one?
No Wall - As much as my legs died over the last 8 miles or so, I never hit the wall. I didn't want someone to drag my body off the course. And I didn't want to stop. Some days you just don't have enough, I may have had legs of lead, but my head was strong.
Post-race logistics - Although the runners were funneled out of Central Park on what seemed like a mile long path, the finish line area was super organized. Every runner received a space blanket, medal and bag full of food. Easy and efficient.
Not Seeing my Mom - My mom doesn't live nearby, so she rarely gets to see me race. Fortunately, she does live close to NYC, so she and my aunt were able to come see me run. They were stationed near the 25 mile marker and although, I never saw them, they saw me. And knowing they were in the crowd (and that I would get to celebrate with them post-race) was awesome.
The Bad:
The Course - I loved this course and I hated this course. It is truly awesome to run through all five boroughs, but the bridges are KILLER and the last six miles are pretty much uphill at just enough of an incline to drain your legs. By mile 25, I was wishing for the downhill finish of the Richmond Marathon.
Crowds - The course was so congested with runners that I found myself doing a lot of weaving, right up until the finish. Due to this, I ran .66 longer than 26.2, a total bummer since I missed a PR by only 8 SECONDS.
8 seconds - Did I mention I missed a PR by 8 seconds? How about the fact that I lapped my watch at 26.2 and it read 4:09:16? Yeah, I'm a little bit bitter about that.
Weather - I know that 52 degrees and sunny sounds like perfect conditions to run in, but honestly, it was too hot for my liking. I would have much preferred 42 degrees, as I was crazy hot any time I wasn't in the shade, which was pretty much all the time.
The Ugly:
The Queensboro Bridge - At mile 16, this is the steepest climb on the course. It was also the only time I recall there being any wind. It was brutal. I'd like to erase that bridge from my memory.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Three Things Thursday ...
Shocking - Since I dyed my hair pink a few weeks back, people have been asking me if I chose the color to support Breast Cancer Awareness. Depending on who's asking, I say, "Um. Sure, that's why." or "Not really. I just thought it would be fun and it is a nice coincidence."
Honestly, I can almost always tell what people really think of it just from the look on their face and usually telling them that I did it as an awareness measure, somehow makes it seem less deviant. Go figure.
But, this morning, I totally read someone wrong. I was at Dizzle's school and one of the teachers asked me if there was a meaning to my hair color. I thought she was on board with the crazy pink hair so I said, "Nope. I just thought it'd be a fun thing to do."
Her reply? "Oh. (pause and loss of smile) That's nice."
See what I mean? Apparently, deviance is OK, as long as you have a good reason.
Six Minutes - Speaking of Dizzle's school, I visited this morning to join her for PE class. They were scheduled to run as many laps as they could in six minutes. It was awesome. Dizzle paced herself well and ran the whole time, finishing 5.25 laps (.58 mile) in the six minutes (10:20 pace).
When we got back inside and the teacher was tallying everyone's mileage, she asked how far I ran. I said I also ran 5.25 laps. She replied, "OK. I just wanted to check because some of the parents in other classes have run farther than their kids."
WHAT!?!? This was a race? I didn't have to stick with my kid? I could have schooled them all?
Don't get me wrong, it was great to run with Dizzle. But I already told her that next year I am going to crush her ...
10 Days - There are only 10 days until the NYC Marathon. My training plan does not have a taper built in. Yet, I am not freaking out at all. I guess this is what "trusting the plan" feels like ...
Honestly, I can almost always tell what people really think of it just from the look on their face and usually telling them that I did it as an awareness measure, somehow makes it seem less deviant. Go figure.
But, this morning, I totally read someone wrong. I was at Dizzle's school and one of the teachers asked me if there was a meaning to my hair color. I thought she was on board with the crazy pink hair so I said, "Nope. I just thought it'd be a fun thing to do."
Her reply? "Oh. (pause and loss of smile) That's nice."
See what I mean? Apparently, deviance is OK, as long as you have a good reason.
Six Minutes - Speaking of Dizzle's school, I visited this morning to join her for PE class. They were scheduled to run as many laps as they could in six minutes. It was awesome. Dizzle paced herself well and ran the whole time, finishing 5.25 laps (.58 mile) in the six minutes (10:20 pace).
When we got back inside and the teacher was tallying everyone's mileage, she asked how far I ran. I said I also ran 5.25 laps. She replied, "OK. I just wanted to check because some of the parents in other classes have run farther than their kids."
WHAT!?!? This was a race? I didn't have to stick with my kid? I could have schooled them all?
Don't get me wrong, it was great to run with Dizzle. But I already told her that next year I am going to crush her ...
10 Days - There are only 10 days until the NYC Marathon. My training plan does not have a taper built in. Yet, I am not freaking out at all. I guess this is what "trusting the plan" feels like ...
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Three Things Thursday ...
Rest - I'm on day two of court-ordered rest and I am feeling much better. Like so much better that if I could find my running shoes, I would hit up the treadmill tonight. But, I won't because I know I need a break and I'll be back on schedule tomorrow anyway. I really think the key to my quick recovery was that two hour nap I got yesterday when G watched my kids for a few hours so I could rest.
It's so awesome to have ...
1. A best friend who has a kid that is your kid's best friend.
2. A best friend who realizes the importance of proper recovery during marathon training.
Pacing - My biggest trouble in any race is pacing. I feel good at the start and get caught up in the crowd, ultimately running too fast in the first few miles, then crashing hard at the end. The few times this hasn't happened, I've crushed my race goals.
Headed into NYC, I need to have an awesome pacing strategy in place. So, on the recommendation of Erin, I checked out the Greg Maclin calculator and put together a pace band to fit my need. I am in love. It's epic. And completely doable.
I am leaving NYC with a PR.
Bank - On Tuesday, when I was tucking Dilly into bed, I asked her about our day. She recounted it like this.
Dilly: We went to Doodle's school and the pumpkin patch and soccer.
Me: Yes, we did go to all of those places.
Dilly: Where did we go too? (answers herself) We went to the piggy bank and I got a lollipop.
Yup, Dilly, We went to the Piggy Bank ...
It's so awesome to have ...
1. A best friend who has a kid that is your kid's best friend.
2. A best friend who realizes the importance of proper recovery during marathon training.
Pacing - My biggest trouble in any race is pacing. I feel good at the start and get caught up in the crowd, ultimately running too fast in the first few miles, then crashing hard at the end. The few times this hasn't happened, I've crushed my race goals.
Headed into NYC, I need to have an awesome pacing strategy in place. So, on the recommendation of Erin, I checked out the Greg Maclin calculator and put together a pace band to fit my need. I am in love. It's epic. And completely doable.
I am leaving NYC with a PR.
Bank - On Tuesday, when I was tucking Dilly into bed, I asked her about our day. She recounted it like this.
Dilly: We went to Doodle's school and the pumpkin patch and soccer.
Me: Yes, we did go to all of those places.
Dilly: Where did we go too? (answers herself) We went to the piggy bank and I got a lollipop.
Yup, Dilly, We went to the Piggy Bank ...
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
cost-benefit analysis ...
I get asked a lot of questions about running. I'm not sure if this is because people know that I am a running coach or if they just think that I spend every waking moment of my life obsessing about the sport. (Note: Just because the vast majority of my clothing was purchased from running stores and there are running gear/magazines/medals/etc all around my house does not indicate an obsession.)
Either way, I feel like I'm usually answering one of the following questions:
To the runners, I say, "Maybe, but probably not. If you have to ask the question in the first place, the issue is probably serious enough to warrant concern. But, go ahead and try. If it's too uncomfortable, stop."
Fortunately, I haven't personally been affected by too many of these questionable situations. I've been relatively injury free (i.e. no pains that have lasted more than a day or two) and I don't get sick all that often (other than the occasional runny nose - which is usually allergy related).
On Tuesday morning (OK, Monday night, if we are being honest), I had one of those questionable situations. I wasn't feeling well, but the ick was contained to my head. So, I got up at 4:30 for my 10 mile run, even though I wasn't sure 10 miles was a smart idea.
Within the first 4 minutes, I had decided that the whole run wasn't going to happen. Even after I warmed up, my pace had slowed considerably from usual. By mile 5, I was drained, but was left with no option but to run the last two miles back to my car.
I shook it off. No big deal. I'll probably feel better later and then I'll just rearrange my workouts for the week. I planned on trying 10 again on Wednesday.
That was until 3 p.m. I started to lose the ability to breathe normally. The thought of running pained me. Almost as much as the thought of not running did.
I tried again to rearrange my schedule. Started playing scenarios in my head.
"I'll skip the run in the morning. Then if I feel OK, I'll run it on the treadmill that night. I can always double up if I have to. I can do it all. I'm epic like that."
Truth is, I'm not epic like that. I woke up and felt worse than expected. I'm confident that the Bat Pig Flu has invaded my home. That's when I realized that I needed to apply some of those fancy principles I learned in college to my training. Specifically, cost-benefit analysis.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: a systematic process for calculating and comparing benefits and costs of a project for two purposes: (1) to determine if it is a sound investment (justification/feasibility), (2) to see how it compares with alternate projects (ranking/priority assignment). It involves comparing the total expected cost of each option against the total expected benefits, to see whether the benefits outweigh the costs, and by how much.
Let's consider the facts:
So, I am making the executive decision to take the next few days off (I know, pick your jaws up off the floor).
No running today.
No running tomorrow.
And who knows, I might just take Friday off too.
I just hope someone hides my running shoes ...
Either way, I feel like I'm usually answering one of the following questions:
- Non-runners: "How do you run so much? I'd die if I had to run a mile."
- Runners: "Can I run through XYZ?"
To the runners, I say, "Maybe, but probably not. If you have to ask the question in the first place, the issue is probably serious enough to warrant concern. But, go ahead and try. If it's too uncomfortable, stop."
Fortunately, I haven't personally been affected by too many of these questionable situations. I've been relatively injury free (i.e. no pains that have lasted more than a day or two) and I don't get sick all that often (other than the occasional runny nose - which is usually allergy related).
On Tuesday morning (OK, Monday night, if we are being honest), I had one of those questionable situations. I wasn't feeling well, but the ick was contained to my head. So, I got up at 4:30 for my 10 mile run, even though I wasn't sure 10 miles was a smart idea.
Within the first 4 minutes, I had decided that the whole run wasn't going to happen. Even after I warmed up, my pace had slowed considerably from usual. By mile 5, I was drained, but was left with no option but to run the last two miles back to my car.
I shook it off. No big deal. I'll probably feel better later and then I'll just rearrange my workouts for the week. I planned on trying 10 again on Wednesday.
That was until 3 p.m. I started to lose the ability to breathe normally. The thought of running pained me. Almost as much as the thought of not running did.
I tried again to rearrange my schedule. Started playing scenarios in my head.
"I'll skip the run in the morning. Then if I feel OK, I'll run it on the treadmill that night. I can always double up if I have to. I can do it all. I'm epic like that."
Truth is, I'm not epic like that. I woke up and felt worse than expected. I'm confident that the Bat Pig Flu has invaded my home. That's when I realized that I needed to apply some of those fancy principles I learned in college to my training. Specifically, cost-benefit analysis.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: a systematic process for calculating and comparing benefits and costs of a project for two purposes: (1) to determine if it is a sound investment (justification/feasibility), (2) to see how it compares with alternate projects (ranking/priority assignment). It involves comparing the total expected cost of each option against the total expected benefits, to see whether the benefits outweigh the costs, and by how much.
Let's consider the facts:
- I'm sick, I know I am sick. But, I also know that I don't like to miss a run.
- I'm just 18 days out from the NYC Marathon. I've logged nearly 1,600 miles this year. Missing 10, 20 or even 50 miles this week, isn't going to make or break my race performance.
- Running some or all of those miles while in a weakened state probably won't help my training in any way other than making me feel good about accomplishing what I'm "supposed to."
- Running some or all of those miles while in a weakened state may cause me to remain in a weakened state for longer than necessary.
- When faced with losing my sanity due to not running or losing my PR due to running while ill, I'd rather be completely insane and unbearable than finish without a PR.
- Running 2,000 miles this year is of lesser importance to me than running the marathon that I have trained for.
So, I am making the executive decision to take the next few days off (I know, pick your jaws up off the floor).
No running today.
No running tomorrow.
And who knows, I might just take Friday off too.
I just hope someone hides my running shoes ...
Monday, October 17, 2011
Baltimore Half Marathon Recap ...
Location: Baltimore, MD
Date: 10/15/11
Temperature: 65 degrees
Official Time: 1:59:02 (9:05 pace)
Garmin Time: 1:59:03 for 13.16 miles (9:01 pace)
Place in Age Group (25-29): 258/1359
Place in Gender: 868/5374
Overall Place: 2248/9154
As you may recall, I was supposed to run the Amica Newport Half on Sunday. Well, due to the fact that all three of my kids were sick last week and one of them vomited all over my living room just three hours before we were supposed to leave, J and I decided to cancel our trip. Knowing that I was bummed to miss the race, J suggested I find a replacement. He offered up Baltimore (which only had spots left if people "no showed") and two races in NJ (a 5-6 hour drive from here).
When I woke up on Friday morning, I checked Baltimore's website to see if they had opened up any spots. It was listed that there were 50 spots left in the half, which would become available at the opening of the expo at 10 a.m. I knew if I left right that instant (7:50 a.m.), I MIGHT be able to get one of those spots (you had to show up in person to register). So, I told J my plan, picked up my bag and left.
When I was 10 minutes away from the expo (10:46 a.m.), I got a call from SpeeDee, who said that it had just been posted on the Baltimore Running Festival Facebook page that all the spots were gone and not to come to the expo asking for one. I started to tear up. Would I have made it if I didn't have to stop at the bank or get gas for the truck?
I decided to go anyway, figuring that I would shop at the expo, have lunch and head home. Once I arrived, I walked up to registration and asked if there was any chance that they had a spot left in the half. The woman behind the desk said, "Sure, I have two."
I nearly crapped my pants. I filled out the form and $95 later, I was in.
The Good:
A sub-2 finish: Although I was hoping to run faster, I am really proud of my sub-2 finish. The course was definitely challenging and I had a less than perfect day, so I am happy I was able to suck it up and power to the finish when I realized I could still break two hours.
My outfit: Epic, as always. Random people were asking to take my picture. I looked awesome.
Meeting up with friends: As I was walking out of the expo, I heard someone shout my name. I looked up to see Jen and TriGuy.
Later that night, I had dinner with SpeeDee and the rest of the HCB crew (I saw them off at the start of the marathon too).
I also ran into Katye and Becka along the way.
The course: The first 8-9 miles of this course is covered with climbs, but the atmosphere and views make up for it. You truly get a feel for Baltimore as you cover this course. After mile 9, the course levels out and eventually starts a decent into the finish area. Over the last mile and a half, you run a gradual decline into past Camden Yards and the Ravens Stadium. The crowd support is awesome. The route is awesome. Even with the climbs, I'd run this race again. I'd just pace myself better next time.
The shirt and medal: Under Armour is the title sponsor of the Baltimore Running Festival, so the shirts are AMAZING. And the crab medal was wicked cool.
Post-race pecan pie: Not actually from the post-race festivities, but still delicious. Yum.
The Bad:
Fire alarm: At 11 p.m., I was woken up and evacuated from my hotel by this.
A minor inconvenience, but I could have lived without walking down 29 flights of stairs, half asleep.
Late start: The half marathon started at 9:45 a.m. That's just insane.
The hills: Hills are never fun.
The weather: It was 65 degrees at the start (too warm for my liking) and there were winds of 25+ mph. There was more than one time when I lost my footing due to the wind.
Missed goals: I didn't achieve what I set out to do. It happens. Just kind of wish it didn't.
The Ugly:
Dehydration: I stopped sweating somewhere between miles 8 and 9. When I finished, my clothes were completely dry. It kind of made it hard to push harder during the race.
Now, I am sick. I have to believe that the two are related.
Date: 10/15/11
Temperature: 65 degrees
Official Time: 1:59:02 (9:05 pace)
Garmin Time: 1:59:03 for 13.16 miles (9:01 pace)
Place in Age Group (25-29): 258/1359
Place in Gender: 868/5374
Overall Place: 2248/9154
As you may recall, I was supposed to run the Amica Newport Half on Sunday. Well, due to the fact that all three of my kids were sick last week and one of them vomited all over my living room just three hours before we were supposed to leave, J and I decided to cancel our trip. Knowing that I was bummed to miss the race, J suggested I find a replacement. He offered up Baltimore (which only had spots left if people "no showed") and two races in NJ (a 5-6 hour drive from here).
When I woke up on Friday morning, I checked Baltimore's website to see if they had opened up any spots. It was listed that there were 50 spots left in the half, which would become available at the opening of the expo at 10 a.m. I knew if I left right that instant (7:50 a.m.), I MIGHT be able to get one of those spots (you had to show up in person to register). So, I told J my plan, picked up my bag and left.
When I was 10 minutes away from the expo (10:46 a.m.), I got a call from SpeeDee, who said that it had just been posted on the Baltimore Running Festival Facebook page that all the spots were gone and not to come to the expo asking for one. I started to tear up. Would I have made it if I didn't have to stop at the bank or get gas for the truck?
I decided to go anyway, figuring that I would shop at the expo, have lunch and head home. Once I arrived, I walked up to registration and asked if there was any chance that they had a spot left in the half. The woman behind the desk said, "Sure, I have two."
I nearly crapped my pants. I filled out the form and $95 later, I was in.
The Good:
A sub-2 finish: Although I was hoping to run faster, I am really proud of my sub-2 finish. The course was definitely challenging and I had a less than perfect day, so I am happy I was able to suck it up and power to the finish when I realized I could still break two hours.
My outfit: Epic, as always. Random people were asking to take my picture. I looked awesome.
Meeting up with friends: As I was walking out of the expo, I heard someone shout my name. I looked up to see Jen and TriGuy.
Later that night, I had dinner with SpeeDee and the rest of the HCB crew (I saw them off at the start of the marathon too).
I also ran into Katye and Becka along the way.The course: The first 8-9 miles of this course is covered with climbs, but the atmosphere and views make up for it. You truly get a feel for Baltimore as you cover this course. After mile 9, the course levels out and eventually starts a decent into the finish area. Over the last mile and a half, you run a gradual decline into past Camden Yards and the Ravens Stadium. The crowd support is awesome. The route is awesome. Even with the climbs, I'd run this race again. I'd just pace myself better next time.
The shirt and medal: Under Armour is the title sponsor of the Baltimore Running Festival, so the shirts are AMAZING. And the crab medal was wicked cool.
Post-race pecan pie: Not actually from the post-race festivities, but still delicious. Yum.
The Bad:Fire alarm: At 11 p.m., I was woken up and evacuated from my hotel by this.
A minor inconvenience, but I could have lived without walking down 29 flights of stairs, half asleep.Late start: The half marathon started at 9:45 a.m. That's just insane.
The hills: Hills are never fun.
The weather: It was 65 degrees at the start (too warm for my liking) and there were winds of 25+ mph. There was more than one time when I lost my footing due to the wind.
Missed goals: I didn't achieve what I set out to do. It happens. Just kind of wish it didn't.
The Ugly:
Dehydration: I stopped sweating somewhere between miles 8 and 9. When I finished, my clothes were completely dry. It kind of made it hard to push harder during the race.
Now, I am sick. I have to believe that the two are related.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Three Things Thursday ...
One Month: Exactly one month from today I will be toeing the line at the NYC Marathon. In some ways, I am really excited. And in other ways, I feel completely unprepared. I'm sure you are saying, "TMB, unprepared? How is that even possible?"
Well, it is. As of right now, I still haven't figured out how I am actually getting to NYC, when I am going or when I am coming back. And then there's that whole thing about my unorthodox training plan? I've loved it to this point, but really, who uses a training plan that has NO TAPER and peaks at a 16 mile LONG RUN? I'm feeling kind of crazy about it.
Oh, well. At least my outfit is cute ...
(Note: I am completely ignoring the fact that I have run my fastest 5K and 16 miler ever while using this training plan.)
Domestic Partners: You are probably well aware of the fact that G is my training partner, running wife, and BFF. We are tight. We share a brain. And it probably annoys J that I take more vacations with her than with him.
But, what you might not know is that Doodle and G's daughter B-nut are BFFs too. Sure, we may have forced them into playing with each other since they were one and a half, but now they truly are best friends.
Since the girls don't (and won't) ever go to the same school, they don't get to see each other on a daily basis. I'm pretty sure they have become aware of that fact because the other day, when I had my girls and B-nut in the car, this conversation happened.
Doodle: B-nut, wouldn't it be so cool if you lived in my neighborhood and we could have playdates everyday?
B-nut: Yeah! That would be cool.
Dizzle: That would be awesome. But we need to get Tweet (our next door neighbor) to move out. Hmm ... We are going to need a lot of money to do that.
*silence*
Doodle (to B-nut): Maybe we should just get married instead ...
Smart thinking, Doodle. Smart thinking.
Outfit Planning: I'm 99.9% sure that I have my outfit picked out for the Disney Princess Half in February. Yes, I am that insane ...
Any guesses? I've dressed as Belle and a Punk Rock Princess in years past.
Well, it is. As of right now, I still haven't figured out how I am actually getting to NYC, when I am going or when I am coming back. And then there's that whole thing about my unorthodox training plan? I've loved it to this point, but really, who uses a training plan that has NO TAPER and peaks at a 16 mile LONG RUN? I'm feeling kind of crazy about it.
Oh, well. At least my outfit is cute ...
(Note: I am completely ignoring the fact that I have run my fastest 5K and 16 miler ever while using this training plan.)
Domestic Partners: You are probably well aware of the fact that G is my training partner, running wife, and BFF. We are tight. We share a brain. And it probably annoys J that I take more vacations with her than with him.
But, what you might not know is that Doodle and G's daughter B-nut are BFFs too. Sure, we may have forced them into playing with each other since they were one and a half, but now they truly are best friends.
Since the girls don't (and won't) ever go to the same school, they don't get to see each other on a daily basis. I'm pretty sure they have become aware of that fact because the other day, when I had my girls and B-nut in the car, this conversation happened.
Doodle: B-nut, wouldn't it be so cool if you lived in my neighborhood and we could have playdates everyday?
B-nut: Yeah! That would be cool.
Dizzle: That would be awesome. But we need to get Tweet (our next door neighbor) to move out. Hmm ... We are going to need a lot of money to do that.
*silence*
Doodle (to B-nut): Maybe we should just get married instead ...
Smart thinking, Doodle. Smart thinking.
Outfit Planning: I'm 99.9% sure that I have my outfit picked out for the Disney Princess Half in February. Yes, I am that insane ...
Any guesses? I've dressed as Belle and a Punk Rock Princess in years past.
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