Tag: blogging meetup

Running, Training

Rock and Roll VA Beach (1:28.49)

Hollie

Rock and Roll VA Beach (1:28.49)

When the orthopedist told me on Friday there was no reason not to run the Rock and Roll Va Beach on August 31 st, I immediately got excited.  Even though my arm was cleared to run, my legs felt stiff from never really getting the lactic acid out from my 8k the previous weekend.  It had had a week to sit there and fester so although my arm was okay, my calves were sore.  By sore, I mean running a 9-minute mile the day before felt the way a 6:30 mile should.  Rock n Roll VA Beach is known for the American Music Festival and having live bands along the course.

Two of my friends, Heather and Laura, came down to race Rock and Roll Va Beach too.  We all piled into the car at 5:00 along with dad headed to the race start.  We quickly found parking and made it to the start an hour early.

lauraheatherandi

While lining up in carrol 1 of Rock and Roll Va Beach, I was a bit more cautious since I didn’t want to bump into anyone.  The doctor had said due to the location of the fracture, the only way I could shatter or hurt the bone more was to fall on the exact same spot with the exact same force.  I still did not want to bump into anyone just because I’m overly cautious (and have pretty bad luck).  My GPS didn’t synch correctly, so I don’t have mile splits, but I’m 100% okay with that.

The first few miles of Rock and Roll Va Beach, I ran with Mike.  It’s always nice to be able to find someone to run and be about the same pace.   The 5kers started at the same time as Rock and Roll Va Beach, which was somewhat weird with a 15,000 person race.  The first three miles of Rock and Roll Va Beach was a blur and we were all packed in like little sardines.

At the 2.5-mile mark of Rock and Roll Va Beach I noticed the 5k shoot began, I couldn’t help but think to myself that having a 5k shoot of .6 long was a touch too much.  

merunning3

After we clicked off three miles of Rock and Roll Va Beach, I had already sweat through my top.  I’m not the biggest sweater and by the time I got water (which was incredibly difficult when you can’t grab things with your right hand), my tank was soaking through.  I knew my body had already begun to overheat.  At that point, I decided it was wise to grab Gatorade and water at every stop.

Miles 4-6 of Rock and Roll Va Beach were uneventful.  Although I didn’t feel great at Rock and Roll Va Beach, I did begin to pass people.  This part of Rock and Roll Va Beach was straight, flat and on the main road of the area.  It made sense because it’s such a big field of people, but it was pretty hard on the legs and boring on the mind. My most memorable moment of this point was saying go “Team Hoyt,” and one of the ladies said…Hey, I read your blog!  Team Hoyt never ceases to amaze me.  (They push disabled children in strollers while running a lot of races.)  Every person that is apart of this is truly amazing.

Around mile 6 of Rock and Roll Va Beach, we turned and went into a nice side street.  It had shade.  I made some small talk with a few of the racers around me.  The relay handoffs were around mile 7, which was a bit motivating because more people were cheering.  I was running (unknowingly) with the first relay team and he did his hand off and left).  When we turned into the base around mile 8, it was instaheatbox again.

I hate you straight flat pavement.
I hate you straight flat pavement.  Just kidding, lets wave to Ally again.

It made a huge u shape around the base so you were able to see people about a mile in front of you wishing you were a mile closer to the finish.  My only thought during mile 9 of Rock and Roll Va Beach was oh my stars I need more water.

I felt a sudden burst of excitement around mile 10 of Rock and Roll Va Beach because I realized I only had a 5k to the finish.  I attempted to pick up the pace but that was not happening because it was so hot and I was tired.

Mile 11 of Rock and Roll Va Beach, we went back over the only hill on the course (i.e., a bridge).  My legs were shot and I was dying and saying I think I can I think I can.  The humidity was getting the worse and I was pretty miserable.  I want to use proper blogging and running technique about how I negative split Rock and Roll Va Beach, but I didn’t.  It was fading and the last 3 miles of Rock and Roll Va Beach were some of the hardest I’ve run in a while.

All aboard the pain train and down the bridge.
All aboard the pain train and down the bridge.

When we turned onto the Virginia Beach boardwalk, I could see the finish line.  The Rock and Roll Va Beach finish line that was still .75 away.  I thought the Rock and Roll Va Beach finish line might never come and I think those five minutes or so are contenders for the longest 5 minutes of my life.  I wanted to try and kick to the end…but didn’t have the energy.  So I just ran cursing every four letting word under my breath and hoping it killed time.

I finally crossed the Rock and Roll Va Beach finish line in 1:28.49 which I was pleased with. 

Afterward, we relaxed on the beach and also ran into Kristy, who had a great race herself.

Done forever.
Done forever.

Overall thoughts of Rock and Roll Va Beach:

I had no idea where Rock and Roll Va Beach would go.  I know I say that a lot, but after my previous week of training my calves were still sore. A lot of people said the rest would do me well, which of course, my body was recovering, but the lactic acid was still festering in my legs from the previous week.  The heat and humidity (around 75-80 and 94% humidity) was certainly a huge factor of this race as well.

All of that negativity aside, I did have a great race at Rock and Roll Va Beach.  Was it a PR? No.  Did I have a great time at Rock n Roll Virginia Beach with great friends before I move tomorrow?  Yes.

Questions for you:

Have you ever run a Rock and Roll race?  Have you run Rock and Roll Va Beach?

Food, Personal

Date with Legends Part 1

Hollie

I’ve had a lot of dates in the past week and I fully plan to give each person the awesome dedication they deserve.  Susan is the first.  Suzi is awesome and I was so excited to able to meet her down in Syracuse, NY at a local restaurant called The Clam Bar.

First, Suzi is awesome.  Not only has she scheduled a huge Boston Run Tribute in Syracuse (which gathered over 1000 runners in Onondaga Lake Park) but she has had a lot of great accomplishments I could brag about for ages…. But anyways since saying we had an awesome time would be a huge understatement, I’ll just leave it at that.

suziandi

We went to a nice restaurant called the Clam Bar and Grille located in Northern Syracuse.  You would never guess from the outside how delicious this place is going to be.  It’s an easily missed spot and even googling it didn’t provide a lot of results.  (Though they do have a website).   On a Friday night, it was jam packed with people though but not the type of people you would think for a Friday night bar scene.  Most of the people there were over the age of 60.  We actually waited for close to 30 minutes but that is typical on Friday’s which all our new found friends.

I decided to order the blue crab stuffed sole…because well…I had never had that before and wanted to switch it up from my typical Salmon.  The food came out pretty quickly and was amazing.  (I know great accurate foodie terms I have).  I absolutely would recommend it.

solebroccali

The other important factor that I personally take into account was how filling it was.  Obviously as a runner when you pay a lot of money for food that isn’t that filling…it stinks.  This was not the case though and I left feeling pretty full.  I won’t sit here telling you I like to eat expensive restaurants that I have to eat a second meal afterwords…ain’t nobody straight outta college  trying to pay race fees can afford that.

So do I recommend The Clam Bar in Syracuse?  Yes.  It’s a local scene with great seafood, the service was great and it’s more of my style of people (ie: the older crowd…literally).

My only sad part is that I really wish I was able to buy one of these adorable coffee mugs.  (Sell them Clam Bar!)

clamcove

After our lovely date at The Clam Bar, we decided to head over to Chuckle Berries a cute little froyo place down the road.  I honestly can’t tell you the last time I had froyo (it has to have been at least 6 months).  Chuckle Berries had great selection of flavors including my personal favorite cake battle and I also tried the caramel crunch.  The froyo was great and the toppings were pretty typical of a froyo place (fruit, chocolate, ect).  They also had homemade whip cream which is always half my froyo stash anyways.

How ice cream should be...as a side to my whip cream.
How ice cream should be…as a side to my whip cream.

Questions for you:

Favorite ice cream topping?

Cherries (I put at least 50) and whip cream.

What time do you normally eat dinner at?

Personal

Catch Up

Hollie

This post is really long overdo.  I do exist outside of the blogging world and exercise and the internets…I do have a life.  Somewhat. 

So last weekend, I had dinner and met up with one of my really good friends (who also happens to blog) Chuck!  We have this whole once a year type of thing seeing each other thing because sadly that is how the cookie crumbles.  Let me tell you, it was one of the highlights of my time in Northern New York.  We went to the Dinosaur BBQ (which he had been telling me to go to for ages…) so it was only fitting he was my date there.  We hung out for over 6 hours and I’m 100% sure that were wasn’t a time in that 6 hours that we didn’t have something to catch up about.  It was such a nice surprise when he texted me earlier in the week saying he would be up!

Then on Halloween in the office was a lot of fun.  One of my coworkers and I dressed (in 5 minutes) as Hurricane Sandy.  Was it too soon?  Maybe…but we were informing people of all the damage that had been done from the Hurricane.  No major damage around me in NY state but there was some serious damage and people often forget the world doesn’t revolve around them.

I also thought it was a grand ole idea to post with our pumpkin piñata and be a pumpkin face.  Don’t ask what that means…because I don’t really know.   It seemed like a good idea at the time.

So yes, that is a nut shell where my life has been recently.  Hanging out with friends and having a happy Halloween.    I’ve been trying to be better at doing personal and life posts so here we go!  😉

For the last month or so that I’m in Northern NY, I FULLY plan on visiting and seeing as many people as possible.  So if you anywhere within a couple hours of me…send me an email (lolzthatswim@gmail.com). 

Questions for you:

1.       What have you been up too this week?

2.       Any close friends that you could chat for hours with?

 

DailyMusings

Bloggers Exist in Real Life Too!

Hollie

It all started at 6:17 am Monday morning.  Why  I woke up I don’t really know-my alarm clock goes off at 6:30.  I think I was just super excited to have breakfast with Nikki!  Anyways-the wedding was lovely (maybe I’ll have some photos in another post…no it wasn’t my wedding.)

So anyways-Nikki and I were meeting at The Biscotti Café located right near her in PA. 

 

I was super excited because come on…who doesn’t love going out for breakfast?  Or meeting really cool bloggers?  Or having breakfast with Nikki?  Gosh could this day get any better. 

We met right before 8:00am and I automatically knew it was a place  I would love.  They had chocolate chip biscotti that came with the coffee.  I wasn’t sure if you were supposed to dip the biscotti in the coffee but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

And it was.  HA!  I wanted to get more of those guys to go-but decided I would probably be eating poorly on the road so decided to let me taste buds experience other places along the road.

Anywho-for my breakfast I had “Nova lox (salmon) with poached eggs on a muffin”

And a fruit cup because I feeling healthy. 

So anyways-back to my meet up with Nikki.  She is so awesome and absolutely hysterical.  We traded terrible swim stories, chatting about life and had such a great time.   I honestly can’t wait to hang out again.   If you don’t follow her blog (you should) she is a great athlete and downright awesome and most interesting blogger.

Question for you: Tell me your favorite blogging adventure. 

Running

Shamrock Half (1:33.30)

Hollie

Well I have finished my fourth half marathon and I could not be more pleased of how it went.  I finished in 1:33.30, which was not at all what I was expecting (like I said somewhere…between 1:35-1:40) would have been fabulous.   I got my A (1:35), B (<1:40) and C (finish…duh) goals.

But I did better.

I was obsessed with wearing the finishers hat...I'm not even a hat person.

Anyways, I didn’t put on the blog much about my knee and IT Band the last week (until Monday), but they had been acting up a lot.  So much so-that I was at 50/50 running the race…the morning of the race.  Although-they felt okay in the morning, they didn’t feel amazing prior and I didn’t want to be injured even more so.

But I decided to run it and immediately into mile 1-I realized I had no pain and was running quickly.  So I was happy. 

I also decided to run it in my trainers because this wasn’t the race I was trying to PR.  I was just trying to finish successfully and have some sort of base to kick back on.  Having more support was so necessary. 

Dad and I woke at the ripe hour of 4:30.  Left the house by 5:15 and were at the race by 6:15.  I was almost late for the start because I had to check my bag in (the race started at 7).

I didn’t warm up at all…unless you count walking to the race start which was about 1 mile.  I don’t really warm up for half marathons and it’s struggle to get me to warm up for most races. 

Then at 7am, bright and early the race started.   I was in corral one and we all went on our ways and speeds.  So many people started off so quick (it was super nerve racking per usual).  I just kinda let my legs go their speed-cautious and not pushing anything.  It ended up being a 7:05 pace.  7:05 pace into the wind.  7:05 pace up hills.  7:05 pace down hills.  I literally hit all my miles between 7:04-7:06 pace.  *I don’t have a Garmin…I just had nothing to think about and math is fun to do while your running. 

Until mile 10, when it got hot and I slowed down to a 7:10 pace.  I was somewhat sad-but then I realized I was still going to be under my goal of 1:35 so I just let it all be what it was.

I hit a serious boredom wall at mile 10, but then some water hander outers screamed my name (it was on my bib) and said looking good.  I don’t know why but it made me say-hell I can do it.

At exactly 1:31 into my race, I heard the marathon go off.  I silently wished my dad good luck and thought of the good fortune he had taught me to really enjoy running.  My dad is my idol.   

Then I finished at exactly the same pace that I had been going.  I haven’t done enough long runs lately to develop any sort of kick for a half marathon.  So I knew that was not on my side . 

This was a great race for me.  I had gone in, hoping to be around 1:35-not expecting to be anywhere faster and came out better.  I really hope it sets the tone for my next race in Plattsburgh, NY on April 22.  I want to be under 1:30.

Obsessed with the hat? maybe...

While waiting around for the marathon-I crossed into one of my favorite bloggers- Alyssa!  It was finally nice to be able to chat for more than a hot second!   Can you believe how awesome she looks after running-I look like I’m about to die.  Good thing she snapped a photo because I’ve been failing miserably at that.  😉

Question for you: 

What is one of your most memorable races?