BAA Half Marathon - New PR Set

I ran the BAA Half Marathon in Boston today and managed to set a new PR. The weather was close to perfect. It was 68 degrees and very cloud with a light misty rain. There was a little wind, but only in a few sections of the course.

If I have ever been prepared for any race it was this one. I followed my training plan rather strictly - although not perfectly, missing a couple long runs. I had two goals: (1) PR, (2) finish in 1:45. My race plan was to start with the 8:00 min./mi. pack and settle into that pace. I was to hold that pace through the 6-7 mile mark where I'd assess how I was feeling. I would continue with 8:00 minute miles until 10 and if I was feeling good would kick it up a notch. Then at 12 it was going to be a race to the finish. Needless to say, that's not exactly how it went. In fact, it went better.

I started out in the 8:00 pack, but everyone was flying by me and it seemed that no one was running 8's. So I just stuck to my race plan and managed a 7:47 first mile, but I felt like I was running slow. Even though it felt that way I just kept going at that pace because I knew I had 12.1 more miles to go. I struggled a bit up the long hill as we headed into the Franklin Park Zoo and then mentally broke down a bit while we ran in the zoo. For some reason I just wanted to get out of there. I ran the zoo miles in 7:43 and 8:07. That was my only 8 on the course. After that I was back mentally strong as I left the zoo. Around mile 10 I had a very sharp shooting pain in my hip that was actually so painful I was afraid I might have to drop out. I came in at mile 10 and 11 with a 7:28 and 7:53, respectively. Instead of dropping out I said to myself, "Eh, they have medical personnel at the end so just get there and if I'm still sore they'll fix me up." Granted, that probably wasn't the best thing to say if I was seriously injured, but luckily it never came to that. I kicked it in around mile 12 and just wanted to see that finish line. I could hear the announcer calling people's name as they crossed the finish, but it felt like I was never going to get there. Eventually, I did make it to the finish in a PR 1:42:35.

I was really happy with this race. My splits were really great and pretty consistent with the course topography. My lungs felt great throughout the entire race and my legs only tired (except my hip) around mile 12, which is when I would have expected to get a bit tired.

Now the question is, what do I do next? National Marathon in Washington, DC with my little sister? Boston Marathon in April for charity? For now I think I'll aim for a few more 5K's while I decide what my next big event will be. I hate not having a training schedule. I do much better with one.

Tomorrow, Sarah and I are going to watch the Tufts 10K in Boston. They have an incredible elite field of women - Deena Kastor, Kara Goucher, Katie McGregor, Amy Rudolph - and I can't wait to see them run. They are such an inspiration. In fact to get motivated for this race I watched Kara Goucher beat Paula Radcliffe in the Great North Run on YouTube about a million times (ok so maybe just twice).

Also, before I go... Thank you so much for coming to cheer for me, Sarah! It was so encouraging to see you and you gave me great motivation! You are going to do great next weekend at the Hartford Marathon!

Comeback Kid

I'm back... again. So it's been a full summer off from blogging, but not running. I did stop training for the Mohawk Hudson Marathon in light of a foot injury due to my crazy hips. I switched my training to the BAA Half Marathon which is on October 7th. Everything went well except for a few glitches here and there with my hips, but all in all I got all my workouts in and did well in almost all of them. So I guess this is my Paula Radcliffe comeback except I'm not as famous and I'm not getting nearly as much publicity.

I've taken up a yoga practice and will be starting a yoga teacher training in November with Finding Inner Peace. My little sister and I are contemplating a marathon in March. I want to wait and see how this half goes first. I think that will give me some time to evaluate where I am and where I want to be and also to figure out how much time I can devote to marathon training. I really would look forward to the increased mileage though. I am also looking forward to running in the cooler weather. I know, I know... in winter I want warmer weather, in summer I want cooler weather. Hey, I'm a woman, my mind is constantly changing!

Yesterday I ran the Marshall Degan Road Race in Quincy, Massachusetts and was the first woman overall, first in my age group, and got a new 5K PR. I was so excited because this was my first overall win. I hope there will be many more to come with even faster times.

Today was a rest day so I took a 7:30 yoga class at Healing Tree Yoga & Wellness Center. I'm journalling too so I got in a little bit of that before class which was nice. Tomorrow I have a speedworkout planned so I'm going to get to bed early so that maybe I can get to work early and out a little early (fingers crossed). I may see if I can change my work hours now that winter is coming and it will be darker. I don't want to run after work in the dark for too long.

First LT Workout

Tonight was my first lactate threshold workout and I really hope I did it right because it kicked my butt! I did 8 total miles with 2 miles as a warmup, 4 miles at half marathon pace, and 2 miles as a cool down.

My first two warm up miles were 8:39 min./mi. and 8:33 min./mi. In retrospect, these were probably a bit too fast for a warm-up. I should probably aim around 8:45 or 9:00 min./mi. My next four miles I tried to do at half marathon pace. The two half marathons I ran were an 8:22 and 8:30 pace so I was aiming for somewhere around there. Instead I ran an 8:12, 8:04, 8:02 and 7:45. I was really happy to see myself pick up speed with each mile. My last two cool down miles were 9:17 (whoa!) and 9:00. Time really flew by tonight. I had no idea I was out there for 1:07:39. It seemed like half an hour!

I think a lot of the time flying by has to do with the fact that I am running without my iPod. I have no music to listen too and therefore am forced to listen to my body and concentrate on my form. I think my leg turnover has really improved because I haven't had the music to distract me. I'm really working on improving my leg turnover, not running up and down (sometimes I sink down too much into my knees), and keeping my wrists loose.

I also did my upper body workout tonight. It consisted of chest press, prone arm lifts, triceps, chest fly, bicep curls, tricep extensions and push-ups. Whoa! I am definitely going to be sore tomorrow. I haven't lifted with my upper body in sooo long!

Tomorrow I'm scheduled for 4 miles of recovery. I work from home tomorrow and am hoping that the rain/thunderstorms that we're supposed to get aren't around at lunchtime so I can get my run in then. I also hope to get to Healing Tree Yoga for my Pilates class tomorrow night too. I love that class!

Jimmy Kennedy Squirrel Run for ALS - 5 mile

On Saturday, Sarah came down to Quincy and we ran the Jimmy Kennedy Squirrel Run for ALS together. It was a non-certified 5 mile route through Quincy and along Wollaston Beach. It was a very nice route and one that I often run on my own.

It was misting all morning long and pretty chilly, until of course we started running. I had my hat, shorts and t-shirt on, but once we hit the beach around mile 3, I was really starting to heat up a bit too much.

This was my first 5 mile race and I have to say that I think I prefer the 5K to the 5 mile. It was hard to judge how fast to go out, but I'm happy with the way it turned out.

It was nice to run with Sarah again. We chatted a little bit, but we were both going a little bit faster than our old long run pace from Boston training so we couldn't really say too much. Our lunch afterwards allowed for the talking.

Sarah taught me how to do splits on my Garmin so I actually have them now! It's so fun to see them! It really gives me a better idea of my pace and how I ran the race.

In training for my fall marathon today was supposed to be a recovery run, but I just didn't feel like doing that. I can't pay for a race and use it as a recovery run. Mentally, that doesn't work for me.

My overall finishing time was 37:27 (7:29 pace), which was good enough for 16th woman and 7th in my age group. My splits were

Mile 1: 8:00 min./mi.

Mile 2: 7:25 min./mi.

Mile 3: 7:33 min./mi.

Mile 4: 7:35 min./mi.

Mile 5: 7:27 min./mi.

I don't know when I'll race again. It seems like I've been doing a lot of it lately and I'm really starting my fall marathon training now so I need to focus on that. Hopefully, I'll be able to squeeze in some more good race though.

Oh, looks like the fall marathon will be Mohawk Hudson River Marathon in Albany, NY. For now that's what I'm training for, but I'm not registered yet and I don't know why. I think I'm just delaying the inevitable.

Results on coolrunning.com

Vision 5K - PR!!

I did it! I got my PR in the Vision 5K on June 2nd, 2007. I could not have been happier with my race. OK, that's not true. I could always be happier, but I was very happy with the way I ran.

This was the race that I organized a team from my company for. We ended up having 19 total participants, which I was psyched about. We had 5 walkers and 14 runners. Four of the runners placed in their age group. Our Men's and Women's teams each took first place and as a Co-Ed team we came in second place. I had no idea that we were such a fast company!

I ended up running the 5K in 22:17 (7:11 pace). I came in 42nd overall, 2nd in my age group and the 7th woman overall. My strategy was basically just to lay it all on the line. I went out as fast as I could while holding back enough to be able to finish. I did the first mile wicked fast, eased in for the second while trying to maintain a good push, held on for the first half of the third and then kicked it in for the second half of the 3rd. I was trying to catch one of the girls from my team, but I just couldn't catch her. She was too fast for me that day!

I crossed the finish and really thought I was going to vomit. It was such a hot and humid morning and I really wasn't hydrated enough. My manager was sitting at the finish and when I walked over to him I thought, "Oh my goodness, I am going to throw up on my manager." Luckily, I didn't and the feeling passed.

I really hope that the company decides to do something like this again and that they let me organize it. It really sounded like everyone had a great time and we definitely got the opportunity to get up and get some exercise!

Results from coolrunning.com

I've Been MIA, but Now I'm Back in Action

Post-marathon depression. Those three words describe my past month since the Boston Marathon. It wasn't easy and it still isn't. I didn't want to run. Nothing felt as good as that day and I didn't know how to get that feeling back. That love for running, that love for training.

I ran Boston's Run to Remember on May 27th. My boss was there to join me in the race. We had a little duel going. I left him a note that morning on his race packet letting him know I'd be winning our race. Little did I know what was to come. I had so very little training in - it's not an excuse, just the truth and my own fault - and it was a very hot morning. I ended up finishing in 1:51:15 and averaging an 8:30 min/mi pace. This was 8 seconds off my previous half marathon pace. My boss however, came in 10 minutes before me and was nice enough to meet my exhausted self at the finish and walk me to the water area.

I was hoping for a PR that day, but it didn't happen. In hindsight, it shouldn't have happened and it was far reaching for me to expect it. I had no training in for it except for some casual whenever I felt like it general aerobic runs and a few track workouts. I was not ready for that race and my legs told me so. They were incredibly sore afterward and even into the next day. I was upset with my performance and doubted why I was even running.

Tuesday morning before work, my boss gave me a short therapy session. We went over the race - both mine and his - and talked about the ups and downs. He helped me rationalize what had been happening to me the past month and explained that it really wasn't that uncommon. After out talk, I felt much better.

Tuesday night I headed out for a training run on the Vision 5K course. I had been organizing a team from my company (Team Take C.H.A.R.G.E.) for the Vision 5K on June 2nd. We had 5 walkers and 15 runners signed up. All my coworkers new that I had run Boston and I did not want to dissapoint any of them in this race.

The training run went well because I took it very easy and ran with the Director of my department. He was ready to stop at about mile 1.8, but I assured him we didn't have much left and told him to keep going. I can be a real slave driver. I had a great time on this run. Seeing him complete the 3.1 miles running the whole way really inspired me and reminded me just how good running can feel.

The Vision 5K was just a few days away and was about to become the turning point of my post-marathon depression. You'll have to read more about this in my next blog post.

New Bedford Half Marathon 3.18.07

The New Bedford Half Marathon was my first half marathon and my longest race to date. Needless to say I was nervous; I am before all races. It was all good nerves and I think made the race more fun.

The Friday before the race we got a Nor'easter, which dumped about 6 inches of snow and sleet in Quincy (more up North and less down South). The wind was blowing so hard my windows were shaking and I could hear the ice pinging against the windows.

By Saturday morning when I woke up to shovel at 7:30am the snow/sleet had turned to rain, which made the snow on the ground heavier than ever. I shoveled out my car and headed back in for oatmeal, hot tea, pyjamas and more sleep.

With all this crazy weather I had no idea what Sunday was going to be like for the race so I decided I had definitely better drive down on Saturday to pick up my number and scope out the roads. New Bedford received significantly less snow fall than points north so I wasn't too worried. The roads were clear and would be ready to race on Sunday.

The race start was at 11am and I was nervous about getting there. I found a place to park, looked up and Sarah was walking by. Thank goodness! A familiar face and someone I could be lost with! We found our way to the gym, which smelled of the post-race meal - fish sandwiches and chowdah, ew! During the check in/bathroom process we managed to run into Kevin and Stephanie, more familiar faces from Team BMC.

Sarah and I headed down to the race start and were not excited about the excessive winds, but didn't really have any choice. We knew we had to keep a 8:30 - 9:00 pace so we could reach our goal of 2 hours. The start was very crowded and we weren't really able to break free of the crowd until around mile 3, but we did and got into a good groove.

Mile 3... ugh, it sends shivers up my spine. That hill was tall and long and awful! I don't want to see it again (until maybe next year). After that though we had a very nice fast downhill with a tailwind. This turned into a long stretch of flat right next to the ocean to enjoy the ocean breeze. In the summertime I love that nice ocean breeze, but Sunday was not the summertime and I hated that ocean breeze. It was cold and smacking me right in the side of the face. Not fun! We had met up with Kevin around the 6 mile mark so we joined him for this stretch of "ocean breeze" that lasted from about miles 8-11. Somewhere after that time we found Stephanie who was doing great - and thankfully had no ice in her ponytail for once! After that I was really just looking for the hill at mile 12. We headed up a hill, but it wasn't the monster of a hill that I had expected. It was more of a long steady incline, which led me to think that that wasn't really the hill I was waiting for. All of a sudden we turn a corner and this guy says, "less than 250 feet to go!" and I realize it's flat and I will be done soon. Sarah and I kicked it in for the last stretch and were so thankful we finished.

This was a great experience. I learned that I definitely cannot come out that fast for my first marathon. I also learned the importance of hydration because at one point I was feeling kind of out of it and then realized that I hadn't really drank that much. I did have one GU packet, but I don't think that was enough to help me.

I treated myself to lunch at my favorite sandwich place and then tried to relax. I couldn't really though because I was so excited about the performance. I talked Dave's ear off for the rest of the day until I crashed at about 10:15 when I went to bed. Then I woke up Monday to talk off Steve's (my manager's) ear for all of Monday. I can't even imagine what I'll be like on April 16th and after! I feel sorry for those around me and apologize in advance for not shutting up!

New Bedford Results
Date: 3.18.2007
Age: 24
Bib #: 69
Distance: 13.1 miles
Goal Time: 02:00:00
Actual Time: 01:49:34
Pace: 8:22
Place Overall: 876/1827
Age Group (19-24) Place: 27/73
Cool Running Results Page