Cliff Notes: Phoenix Recap (3:14.59)

Cliff notes version: I PR’ed and was first in my age group.

A photo of me post race
A photo of me post race

The longer but not too long version:

The first half of the race felt great.  I ran the first 13.1 in 1:34.

For the last two weeks, I have been dealing with a hamstring soreness/tightness that manifested itself in this race around mile 18.  From mile 21-26.2 I felt my hamstring and hip during each and every stride.  It was the hardest section of running I’ve done in a while.  I fought through (and believe me if I felt anything rip, tear, pop or do something to change my gait I would have stopped).  My hamstring caused my stride to shorten and for it to be a miserable last 7 miles.

I’m in a decent amount of pain (not soreness but pain) post race.  It’s not sharp but it does feel strained.

I also dealt with 14 hours of traveling and being up for 22 hours on Thursday to Friday.  I could feel exhaustion kick in.

I had already planned to rest several days before returning to running but I’m resting until I can figure out what is going on.  I’ll be back at you for a much longer blog post sometime soon.

It was a great PR and a good race for me.  I know I still have not conquered the marathon distance by any means.  I did learn that my fueling was perfect though for this race and I believe that was a huge lesson.  The other important thing about typing up this race recap is that I’ve finally learned how to spell “Phoenix”…instead of Pheonix…

For the LOLZ: 

Trying to get up to collect my age group award...like a bumbling idiot.
Trying to get up to collect my age group award…like a bumbling idiot.

age group winner

Thank you for all the love and support from family and friends.  It truly means the world to me.  

 

 

 

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48 Comments

  1. ahhh that last picture, your smile is so big! LOVE IT! Congrats on the race and I hope your hamstring feels better ASAP!

    Also I def haven’t mastered the spelling of Phoenix… it’s a tough one!

  2. I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!! Especially since you accomplished all of this coming back from an injury. Gives me hope for my own running future. Can’t wait for the full recap!

  3. OMG you are my favorite. We need to go to another diner soon so I can hear all the details! PS (I bought the exact same Nimbus you’re wearing and took them for a test run today.. but only for 4 miles.. lolz)

  4. Congrats Hollie!!!! I was there, too. I PRed (big) and I am now just 5 minutes away from a BQ. I’ll tell you though – I have NEVER cramped so much during a race. Never. Started at 16 for me and by 21 my toes were curled up in my shoes. I heard a lot of people had trouble like mine and yours today. I wonder if it was the downgrade? It was so gradual, but the body still feels it. Congrats again! Please recover well and quickly. (PS I got the same hoodie :-))

  5. Congratulations, particularly for pushing through so many miles despite the discomfort. I’m sure this is just another step towards your mastery of the marathon distance, and you have the willingness to grow and learn that so many others (myself included) lack. Obviously, I would love your latest PR to be my lifetime goal PR, but I know how happy we are with times is all relative.

    I love your award photos! I know if I had just run a marathon at that speed, I would have to crawl up to the podium. Even that is wishful thinking on my part though 😉

  6. Congratulations Hollie! It sounds like a really great, and challenging race. Can’t wait to hear more about it, and learn from what you learned 😉 Sorry about all your travel issues. I really hope you get some resolution….

    1. Thank you so much Mia!

      Our flights tomorrow were canceled and I guess they don’t have any flights until Monday.

  7. Wow Hollie great job! I cannot wait to hear about the whole race. I’ll pray your soreness is not an injury and you’ll be back to running soon! 🙂

  8. Omg Hollie, I’m dying at that picture. I can’t believe they made you guys climb those after the race! What kind of cruel, sick joke is that? Hahahaha. Omg. Congrats!!

  9. Congratulations, that’s a solid race much more in line with your capabilities than the first one for sure. Please heal fast.

  10. Congrats on the PR & AG win! That pic is hilarious!!!!
    Love your NB shirt you wore for the race!

  11. Congrats, Hollie! Sorry the hamstring didn’t want to behave but way to stay strong despite that! Can’t stop the LOLZ! Oh and that pic climbing to the podium is priceless!!

  12. Wonderful!! You are an amazing runner and so smart in training/recovering. I hope you are pain free soon… having run 5 marathons myself I can FEEL your pain… That PR is worth it!! yay!

    (duh i thought marathon was on the sunday)…

  13. THIS IS A HUGE PR!! Congrats to you! I think each marathon you do throughout your life, you’ll learn elements one step at a time (or 26.2 miles ;)) Now you have fueling down! I’m sorry to hear your hamstring is hurting, but you made it!!! It’ll clear up and you’ll be on the road to your next! 😀 😀 😀

  14. SO PROUD OF YOU, FRIEND!! Rest up–you earned it. Can’t wait for the full-fledged recap!

  15. Congratulations! Sorry to hear about your hamstring and travel issues though. What a pain 🙁
    I think you have many marathons ahead of you (if it’s something you enjoy!) and the fact you a) got a PB and b) learnt something makes this a very successful race.

  16. hi! Congrats on the PR! Could you share your fueling strategy? I am tinkering with a new one after a major bonk a few weeks ago…thanks!!

  17. Congratulations Hollie! Very awesome that you PRed and placed, although I will never understand why they expected someone who completed a marathon to climb onto a podium. I hope you have a good recovery and the hamstring will be okay. I enjoyed your mini recap and can’t wait to read more about everything when you are home, rested up, and able to write more.

  18. Congrats on the PR and for getting your fueling right! I’m proud of you! I’m so sorry I laughed really hard at your podium picture…I have a feeling I’d be so much worse! haha 🙂

  19. Wow Hollie! An amazing time. I don’t think I’ll ever be that fast, but you are fast, and hope your body repairs and rests after earning that pig PR.

  20. Can’t wait for the full recap!!! I love the photo of you climbing the podium…. Classic post marathon fatigue yah? 🙂 So happy for and proud of you!! Great job!!!

  21. Congrats on the PR! Curious, what do you do for nutrition?

  22. hollie! YOU ARE A BEAST. i love it, lady! can’t wait to read more and i love that you added that had you felt a pop or tear or anything you would’ve stopped. proud of you 🙂

    1. I’m not elite nor am I ever going to be. There isn’t a need for me to finish a race completely injured 🙂

  23. I couldn’t be more excited for you!!!! You are such a rockstar! I certainly hope for a quick recovery for the hammy. You just need to give it some healing time as you bask in your post-race glory! Nicely done and thanks for the LOLZ 🙂

  24. Hollie! Wow–that’s a super fast marathon! Congrats all over the place. You inspire me. I can’t believe you had to climb a block post marathon lol I can’t wait to read more but thank you so much for sharing this clif note version. It’s hard to blog post marathon race. I hope your hamstring loosens up. I’m sorry you felt pain!

  25. That is UNREAL and so friggin amazing! Congratulations and I can’t wait to sit down and read the whole recap !!! Hope your hamstring starts feeling better!

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