Category Archives: Running

Nike Women’s Half Marathon (1:24.53)

By Posted in Running Tagged , , 77 Comments

This will probably be a lot longer recap and post from me then you are used too.   I don’t normally have a good amount to say about races but I am trying to get better about that.  First, I was never set on running this race.  The month of April I had been back and forth about running this race, I had a few other commitments that I was missing and it seemed like everything and anything was planned on tis same weekend.  When I found out there was no real way to trade or sell off my bib and my dad was going to come watch…well I decided to suck it up to get out of my comfort zone and run the biggest race of my life.

I’m elated I did.

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It’s not a secret that I really enjoy Nike products.  They are by far my favorite brand and I have never denied that through swimming or running.  The fact that they announced they were sponsoring a race 6 months ago in DC, I decided I just had to run.  That was in November and for those who relatively new, I was just coming off a giant cyst in my foot…I needed something long term to look forward too and this seemed perfect.  So I entered the race six months ago and put it in the back of mind.

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Fast forward to driving down and being on the metro to get my race packet.  I walked entirely too much and a lot more than I would have liked the day before a race.  Between standing in line (for about an hour), walking to and from the metro station (2 miles roundtrip…not the .5 stated) and then just walking…I walked…a lot more then you should.

But before we get much into this recap to much, I had said multiple times I wanted to do well but I don’t feel fully recovered from last months 1:25 at Shamrock.  For those who follow my training, it was obvious my running was okay not stellar. I was not expecting a PR here as well and I was fine with that.  I was there to have fun (I’m always there to have fun).

meandmarie

After getting to the race in the morning around 6:00, I shot the breeze with my friend from the area and her husband (another reason I was really excited to be there).  I didn’t warm up besides my jog with dad to the metro station.  Jogging with a bag, I looked like a line backer…maybe a career in the football is my next bet.

meprerace

After checking in my bag and delayering all the way (no throw away clothes for me actually), I went to my carol and it was just awe inspiring seeing all the runners and so intimidating. We had to wear wrist bands depending on your pace and looking down to see about 30 females with a sub 6 minute bracelet was scary.

After talking with Brennan, we both agreed…how intimating.  These girls look legit…am I supposed to be here?  Also right before the start, I also saw Alex (who I saw quite a few times on the course).

brennanai

Then we were off.  Literally the race started at 7:00am and on time.   Around the half mile point we went under a tunnel with bongo players.  It was loud and reminded me a metronome.  Although it was by far my favorite part, It also blocked my Nike watch and immediately I lost signal and from that point on I was sans GPS.  Not sure if anyone else had this problem but I wasn’t just going to stop and say oh darn…watch doesn’t work…race is over.

I was able to chart these splits off their website though and not that it matters too much about splits considering my 5k’s are nearly the same.  My watch acted as a natural stop watch so I had a good idea of what I was doing about my pace but not really. .

raceresults

I’ll break it up into 4, 5ks.

The first 5k (20:39).

My first 5k will always be my slowest.  Always.  My legs were pretty tired and I didn’t know how it would play out.  I somewhere between 40-50th place but continued to pass people.  We went through the tunnel at the very beginning but I loved the bongo players.  The crowd support was amazing.  The first 5k went by pretty fast and there was only one real hill.  I was really taking in the scenery and trying to find my groove here.

The second 5k (19:49)

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This was a very crowd supported.  As I felt myself getting into the groove of a very solid pace.  I didn’t feel 100% optimal but I felt good.  I found myself pretty alone from this point on.  I began to become engrossed in my own thoughts.  I stayed in the same position throughout the race besides a lone wolf dude who ran by me grunting nice running…

The third 5k (20:21)

Miles 6.5-9 were probably the hardest for me.  I was literally all alone with no one around and going into a bit of wind.  I look back at pictures of people running the same race as I am with literally hundreds of females around and I was all by myself.  I saw someone about .1 in front of me and I knew someone was .1 behind…but no one else around.  It was mentally challenging but gorgeous views and just focusing on finishing got me through.  I didn’t have any problems and it honestly just felt like a mental barrier of miles that I needed to get through.

Also during this point some mistaken man ran onto course and he was immediately stopped.  I chuckled and told him that he could finish the rest of the race for me.  He said “you’re a heart breaker kid”…whatever that means.

The final 5k (19:56)

This 5k (if I have this court figured out right) was pretty similar to the first 5k, just retracing our steps.  By this point I had dropped my hammer and had decided I was going to finish and finish strong.  The final 5k for me is my personal favorite because I know it’s like the extra run I normally do once a week and I can power through it.  We went through that tunnel again and proceeded to turn around the Washington Monument.  The course widened up and the spectators were screaming.  I was literally in tunnel vision to finish.

Bonus round 12.4-13.1.

I was just staring at the finish line because you were going towards it at a straight line and it’s big.  I thought it might never come.  I passed the fellow that passed me earlier in the race (and he said you go girl) and then I was gaining on someone in front of me who was being paced by a cyclist (but I never caught them).

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But I finished in 1:24.53.

Post race I was shocked…Surprised…what the heck?  Me just finishing in 9th? I went through all the post race joys of getting a necklace, getting my (cute) finisher tee and just hanging out.  I meant to cool down but never got around to and never did a shakeout run later…

I was able to finally meet Mikey (who is point blank awesome).

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I realized after looking in my bag, I had forgotten to run take my gel with 2X caffeine.  Now that might not seem like a big deal to you, but I have never run a race (at all) without taking this gel 45 minutes before.  Ever.  I have nearly cried (well just panicked) at several races because I thought I didn’t have it.  The only prerace tradition I have ever had is take that gel at 45 minutes…and I literally forgot.   Could I have finished faster?  Who knows, perhaps without any travel or walking around miles on miles but this was still a PR for me and a great race.

As dad said: This was my new favorite race course…sure you get to see all the beautiful monument and views but you also get to see all the political scandals (like Watergate!) .

And thus ends my longest blog post ever…ha ha.

 

Questions for you:

Do you drink or take any caffeine before races?

What is your favorite part of Washington DC? 

Thoughts of Different Training Cycles

By Posted in Reads, Running Tagged , , , , , 22 Comments

I can’t believe tomorrow I’m driving down South for a few days for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon.  It almost seems depressing that I’ll only be a few hours from home yet I won’t be in the VA Beach area.  My post isn’t about VA Beach or traveling though. 

I have often wondered if cross training when you don’t feel like running is beneficial.  I’ll preface this by saying that I have absolutely no idea the correct answer to that.  I’m not going to sit here and throw around facts that I made up. I’m also not going to say, I blog therefore have the credentials to give you unwanted training (or life) advice. I will, however, tell you what has worked for me in this training cycle.  (I consider everything past my cyst injury this training cycle really).

Since roughly January, I’ve taken a day off weekly to either cross train or not work out at all depending on my mood.  Often times, it’s because of some weird problem I’m having of the day…sick…eye problems…sleeping…but other times it’s because I am focusing to taper (like tomorrow).

I’ve found that I’m still able to run the next day and didn’t lose all my endurance…go figure…not all of us hate days off…  I am the first to tell you that all while preparing for an overzealous cross country season last year I didn’t take a lot of rest days.  It wasn’t because I felt “compelled” to hit a certain mileage (because I’m hitting roughly the same mileage now with an off day).  It was because I was training differently.

Everyday I’d run roughly 5-8 miles before it got to be 100000 degrees.  Then maybe I’d run a few more in the form of a speed workout in the afternoon.  Heatbox speed…only made me stronger.  I don’t know, I hit my fastest 5k in 90 degree heat back in July.

I’d cross train on top of an 8 mile run sometimes…other times I’d just take PM off.  I took a few rest days sometimes.  What I’m telling you is that I basically cross trained and ran the same amount just layed out differently.  Instead of an entire day dedicated to just cross training, I’d run lower mileage throughout the week and just cross train…or take pm’s off.

Now I run higher mileage 6 out of 7 days of the week and then take a day away from running.  Not purposely but that is just how the cookie has started to crumble.

I think in this self guided thought processed blog.  (ie: my thinking about my training out loud),  I think I somewhat like having a day to just cross train as well.  It makes me crave running the next day.  (not in the same way I crave cookies though…).

Everyone’s body works differently and to think that you can umbrella yourself into one particular style or training method.  Sure there is a general method to improving, but how I choose to run may or may not work for you…just as you choose to train and run may or may not work for me. 

Questions for you:  Does your training change?

Outdoor Running is Fun (83 Miles)

By Posted in Running, Training Tagged , , 23 Comments
Monday: 11.02 miles outdoors untimed (guestimating around a 9 minute pace)
Tuesday:   11.65 miles outdoors untimed
Wednesday: 11.08 mile run treadmill (8:08 pace_
Thursday: AM: 10.8 mile run (8:30 pace)
PM: 6.31 Tempo Run (7:17 pace)
Friday: 11.55 miles outdoors untimed in probably the most wind of my life
Saturday: 10.11 miles with Jen and Laura in Rochester. 
Sunday: Tentative: 10 miles easy
Total: 83 miles

Thoughts of the week:

I was able to get outdoors more this week than any other week (which was a nice change considering I’ve spent countless hours on the treadmill all year).   My quads are a bit more sore though due to the 300 foot hills that I am forced to run to go anywhere that involves being outside in upstate NY.  That’s fine though because I am racing the Mountain Goat 10 miler in Syracuse in two weeks which is hilly.   To give you an idea: My best time for a 10 miler 65:30 and it is extremely overzealous for me to want to break 70 minutes with a taper, but as always I will enjoy myself.  Moving on.

My runs have also been into the wind which has been why my pace has slowed down significantly.  So while I am 100% positive my pace per miles has slowed down significantly outdoors, I’m fine with that because my effort remains there(also untimed and stressless).  So that’s that.

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from my race last weekend

My legs have been feeling really good throughout this entire week.  I’m hoping to keep the train going and going to do a mini taper for next weekend (Nike Half Marathon).  I leave for DC on Friday morning and I’ll stay in PA with Tim’s parents in the evening and head down to DC on Saturday where I’ll be greeted by my dad.  I actually think I’m making a small trip to visit my brother Matt as he will actually be in Baltimore at the time…so hopefully I have time to do all that.  (hastag it’s a family affair)

The race experience should be a good time overall (poor word choice) but as far as running goes, I’m not sure what to expect.  My original goal was to break 1:25 but as I rambled about last week I fear my legs are too fatigued from Shamrock and I’m not sure my legs are capable of that right now.  That’s fine because I get to see some many people, truly enjoy myself and enjoy DC.  Though my racecation is for you know…a race…it’s certainly ignited (by a lot more than the actual race) of seeing my family.

Finally, I’m also currently in the process of making a summer race schedule which I’m pretty excited for as well.

Hopefully I'll be smiling then too...

Hopefully I’ll be smiling then too…

Questions for you: 

Is your area windy?

Any exciting races this summer?  

DAR 5k (19:18)

By Posted in Running Tagged , , , 43 Comments

I don’t remember if I even noted that I was doing a 5k on my blog last weekend.  I had actually found the deal on living social a few weeks prior and for 10 dollars how can you resist a 5k in your favorite park?  Plus I would probably run down there anyways so why not pay 10 dollars and find myself a nice baseline time.  I haven’t run a 5k since January so this was a nice change of pace (literally). 

After the last week of training and being sick, plus recovering from a 20 miler, I wasn’t exactly sure where this race was going.  I wasn’t really that worried about it either way and the morning of decided I would still drive down there.  I could use it as a nice speed workout that wasn’t on the treadmill.

The morning of the race, I woke up to find the weather outside to be beautiful.  I was a bit confused and thought maybe it was a dream but it was sunny and absolutely gorgeous.  I ate my breakfast and drove down to Syracuse around 8am.  I got to Syracuse and it started snowing…and all of a sudden it was overcast and about 30 degrees.  Oh goodie, good thing I brought mittens and pants.  I had actually almost not and just brought shorts and a singlet since it was supposed to warm up to 40.

After picking up my shirt and race bib, I did a nice 2 miles in the park and tried to warm up.  I warmed up enough that I decided I would run in shorts…but not enough to delayer my long sleeve, headband or mittens.

I used my favorite festive porta potty (no really, the porta pottys at the Onondaga Lake Parkway are decorated on the inside with wreaths and whatever Holiday is coming up.  They also have hand sanitizer and some sort of air cleaner…).  They are the gold standard.  I’d take a picture but um…a picture of the inside of porta potty on a blog?

When I got to the race start, I was immediately greeted by a friend Dylan and we chatted for a second before the race.  (Shoutout to you Dylan…wish we had gotten a photo, at Mountain Goat we will!).  The race went off and ran parallel to the lake.  It was windy…it was cold, it was snowing but not too bad.  I started off something like 10-15th overall.

My first mile was 5:45 and I felt good.  Not great, not awful.  I kept powering through and moved from around 15th place to 7th passed the other females as well.  It was around mile 1 that I was able to notice every single person in front of me.  That was a bit strange for me…I’ve never been a “front runner” in a race so it was pretty neat to see all the race competitors at that point that were ahead.

The second mile included the turn around point (180 degrees).  Late during the second mile, I moved into second place overall.  Not second female overall, but second place between male and female.  That is a HUGE deal for me, and something I had never been before.   I hit the second mile in 6:18.  I was still feeling good and not like I was dying so put on my mean face (because I really do look mean when I run).

The third mile, I saw the 1st place person was probably 2 minutes ahead and no way I’d catch him but I was all by myself.  Literally no one around.  It was one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me at a race.  I’ve placed top female in races before, but I have never placed second overall in a race and never been in a position that I’m just all by myself and no boys around.  I was going against the wind at this point but managed to pull at a 6:08 final mile.  I saw the finish line for like half a mile before I crossed it.  I didn’t help because I run these trails at least 1-2 times per week too so the last half mile felt longer than the entire race.

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My final time was 19:18.  A lot of people said they had the race at 3.2-3.3.  I’m wondering if the people measuring the 3.3 went for a swim in the lake on their way back…looked a bit choppy to me.   For an inaugural race, it was very well put together and went by pretty smoothly with no issues.  (You never know with first races I guess, but races at the parkway seem to always go well).  This race has all the credentials on a nonwindy day to be a PRing flat, fast 5k…but there are very few of those days in Upstate NY.  No matter, I got some speedy miles on my legs in preparation for my half in a week.

After the race I actually had the honor to meet up with Heather (Upstate Runner) and ran 10 miles with her.  If you know my running style it’s generally a no cooldown and shakeout a few hours later but today it was an enjoy 10 mile cooldown/shakeout/chat session with Heather.  She ran the Shamrock full marathon last month and is from an area somewhat close to Syracuse as well.  It was really nice to finally meet her and chat for a solid 10 miles.  I was glad she took it easy for me, since I was dead after the race…I was also really glad that she didn’t think I was terribly awkward…or if she did , pretended that I wasn’t.

Questions for you:

Have you ever run a race and been alone?

I’ve run a few smaller races that I have ended up being by myself (not placing overall but just because there aren’t a lot of people).  I actually nearly got lost a couple of times because there was no one around and no signs.  That’s upstate mentality for you.

Do you like mittens or gloves?

I like mittens, specifically I like the mittens I stole from my brother…let’s hope he isn’t reading my blog today. 

Looking at Boston through a Crystal Ball

By Posted in Running Tagged , , , 52 Comments

I have close to 100 friends (both internet wide and not) that ran Boston yesterday.  This Monday is always different in a runners heart.  Watching dreams happen, goals achieved, hard work and mental toughness tested.  For the morning I did just that, I watched and listened (ask my coworkers) as the majority of my friends ran PR’s, achieved their dreams and ran their hearts out.  Even if you are a non-runner or don’t follow running closely, chances are you have heard of the Boston Marathon.

The Boston Marathon is the Gold Standard of distance running…one does not simply by fluke get there.   Many people have tried to qualify for years, spent countless years, time, patience and ran other marathons…simply in hopes of running the Boston Marathon.

Imagine the gold standard race as a prestigious college, for ease we’ll say Harvard.  You are a high school student who has dreamed of going to Harvard your entire life.  You work hard at school, you maintain a near perfect GPA, spending countless hours studying and missing countless high school social events because of tests the next day.  That isn’t good enough though and all while doing that you maintain a job and are in a couple of extracurricular clubs.  You have a few friends, but most of them are your study partners and classmates with the same motives as yourself.  You gave up prom because the SAT was the next morning and you wanted to get a full nights rest.

But come your senior year, you did it.  Your hard work payed off.  Four years of intense studying, missing social events and working has payed off.  You have been accepted to Harvard.  (in our case four years and you have qualified for the Boston).

You spend the summer preparing, laying out your schedule of how you’ll make time but still have fun in college.  You have a perfect schedule layed out, enjoy the summer off from schooling but come September you dive right into the next phase of your life.

College (or in our case the actual training portion for Boston).  College is rough, you are plagued with a hard first semester…you nearly give up and wonder if I can’t pass an entry level college course, how will I pass sophomore, junior and senior year?  It’s a mental battle and you periodically question yourself. You continue to maintain your grades though now you are with other students who are competitive with you.  As you train, you see that you will not be at the top of this race and you could graduate closer to the middle or the bottom.  But.  You will still graduate and cross that finish line.

Four years again go by and you are sitting at graduation.  About half your class is with you…the other half didn’t make it this far.  Injuries, poor GPA, mental struggle…it was not for them.

You are sitting alphabetical order at graduation and listening to the valedictorian, salutation, guest of honor and speeches.  Waiting for your time to walk the line, receive your diploma and officially graduate.  You’ve made it this far.  Nothing can stop you.

Finally they say it.  We will now start announcing the candidates to graduate.

And the race you have now trained 8 years for is off.  You have begun a 26.2 mile journey that will test you physically, mentally and emotionally.  Your eight years of training leads up to this.

Boston Marathon

Your last name starts with “M” so you listen as others are announced.  The valedictorian is announced first and you see him receive his diploma and sit back down.  All while you sit with anticipation.

Finally they are on graduating “I”s, now “J”s…K…L…It’s your turn now.  You stand up and are walking towards the stage.  You see the finish line and are smiling bigger than 1000 suns.  It seems like you have been here for hours waiting…It’s all caught on video and your parents, friends and family are watching.  You are finishing one of America’s most prestigious road races and your parents, friends, family could not be anymore proud.

NBC still image taken from video shows an explosion at the Boston Marathon

You walk on stage and that is when it happens.  Out of nowhere and without warning.  An explosion.  An explosion rocking our entire community.  Your community.  Your friends.  Your family.  Our crystal ball world.

Explosion at the 117th Boston Marathon, Boston, America - 15 Apr

In the coming minutes, the area is surrounded.  Who would have done this?  Why? How?  Graduation has been cancelled and without warning, those who didn’t graduate don’t.  They don’t get a second shot to graduate…even though (as yourself) spent the last 8 years preparing for this graduation…they don’t get the honor they deserve.

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Those are the people that were stopped at mile 21, the ones that worked every bit as hard but never stepped on stage.

Then those who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.  Alphabetical order and your last name started with an L?  You were walking off stage when the explosion occurred.

Your friends and family stationed near the stage.

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Your friends and family who could not attend the graduation, wondering if you were okay but have no way of reaching or knowing for an hour or two…

My point is this, as a running community, a community in general, what happened yesterday is no short of a tragedy.  An event so powerful to us, hit so hard.  We have risen together.  Though running brings us closer, this event has also brought us even closer.  We have come together.   Those training for a marathon, those training for a 5k..those training to lose weight.  We stand strong together as runners and non…we are a community.   Nothing will break us down and while this was a powerful reminder, Boston 2013, along with every single other Boston will never be forgotten.