Still a major fail when it comes to actually documenting my races. I really need to get better at this.
So. Since my last post in October, I've run 4 more races.
In November I ran the 5k4life race, it was obviously a 5k, and it was pretty awesome. It was a small race, but it was well organized. I killed it with a 28:23 finish...previously the best I had ever run a 5k was 28:20 and that was on the treadmill. Awesomesauce.
In December I ran the Somerville Jingle Bell Run, another 5k. It was seriously the coldest day we had up to that point by a goo 10+ degrees and it was the coldest day we had all winter. The temperature when we started was around 19 degrees I think...or was 19 the high that day? I can't remember. Even with the cold (and needing to wear running capri's, running pants, a tank top, a long sleeved shirt, a jacket, and gloves), I still managed to finish in 29:40. Not bad, not bad at all.
In February I ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon. I WILL have a real update for this race, it will be out of chronological order, but at least it'll be done.
And this brings us to race #4. The Quincy Historic Half Marathon. And I will TRY to do a real update.
The Quincy half was exactly 3 weeks from the Princess half and during those 3 weeks I didn't run a single step. Not to mention that I didn't even register for the race until the Tuesday night before the race. So I was really prepared. Ha.
In fact, I wasn't even sure that I wanted to run the race. I had my normal pre-race nerves and I was really feeling like I was in over my head. Even while I was waiting for the race to start I was seriously rethinking my decision to run. Listening and looking around, I realized that I was in over my head - even though going into the race I knew that the race was a training run for the Boston Marathon and that these folks were SERIOUS. I was listening to one woman talk about how this race was full of hills, that it wasn't an easy course, and that you shouldn't expect to PR. I was beginning to get really, really scared.
I sucked it up and went out to the starting line. Placed myself somewhere around the middle and hoped for the best.
Miles 0-3. These weren't terrible, in fact, I was feeling pretty good. I think I took a brief walking break right before mile 3 until I realized that there was a water stop right after the 3 mile mark so I started running again until that point.
Miles 4-6. This was where I started getting really confused/annoyed with the course. When I was a little past mile 4, I could see the leaders coming out of mile 6 which was the course looped over it self for the first time. I wasn't loving the course, but I wasn't hating this idea either. Better than before! Except at one point when I realized that I can't do math in my head (at mile 4 there were 9 miles left...not 8...), I wasn't regretting this so much. I was physically feeling okay.
Miles 7-9. Somewhere around this point was where we did another loop around a development. And I think this might have been when I started enjoying myself less. Ha. I was still feeling pretty strong here too. Going into the race I had a goal of finishing under 2:15, but my hope was pretty much shot when I overhead that lady talking about the course. However...as of mile 8 I was on track to finish under 2:15; I was still maintaining an 10 minute mile. And even at mile 9 I was still pretty much on track.
Mile 10. I started slowing down around mile 10. This mile was TOUGH. It was mostly up hill and I walked quite a bit of it. It was also at this point that I realized that even if I walked the rest of the way, I would PR. I had been running for about an hour and 45 minutes so I had 45 minutes (give or take) to finish the last 3.1 miles.
Mile 11. The last water break was around mile 11.5 and even though I had started running a bit more after we crested the hill and passed the 11 mile mark, I wasn't running nearly as much as I had been before. Until I happen to pass a lady who announced that as of *that spot* we had 1.5 miles left to go! I picked it up and ran to the mile 12 marker.
Mile 12. This was a harder mile than the beginning of the race, but not as bad as mile 10. I ran most of this mile, but was doing walk/run intervals...obviously not timed, but as I needed to walk I did. It was during this mile that a woman that I had been playing chicken since mile 6 or so passed me and told me that I was doing great and to keep it up. I tried to, but it wasn't that great. Then another woman passed me and told me to keep going that we were almost there. Around mile 12.8 or so I realized that this was rediculous and I kicked it up a notch.
Or 12. I FLEW it in. And I mean, flew. I have never moved that fast, my legs were heavy and they were starting to hurt, but I didn't care. It was as if I was making up for all of the walking breaks I took. I don't know what overcame me, but it was amazing. I was exhausted, could barely stand up, and was near tears from adrenaline/excitement...the clock time was 2:17:35.
I was floored. I could not believe that I did it. No, it wasn't 2:15, but it was pretty damn close. And given the amount of walking I did (particularly mile 10), I was so happy with the time.
After receiving my medal, a bottle of water, and a banana (that was shoved at me), I literally collapsed on a curb, updated facebook, and pulled myself up to drink water and eat the banana.
My chip time turned out to be 2:16:26...which was awesome. I'm so proud of myself, I still have that goal of a sub-2:15 half...maybe even a sub 2:00 half.
So I managed to cut almost 20 minutes off of my half marathon time and still feel perfectly fine afterwards...I was a little sore yesterday, but mostly I was fine.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Monday, October 10, 2011
Tufts 10k for Women
The whole purpose of this blog was to document my races. I seem to fail in that...since my last post, I ran a 10k and a 5k; not counting today's 10k.
So...really no detailed update for the other two races.
The 10k was warm (I think?) and there were tough parts. I wanted to finish in an hour, and I finished in 1:04:52. Not great, but not terrible either.
The 5k was brutal. To put it mildly, I wanted to quite after about 15 minutes. It was a little warm, but not horribly hot, but I didn't really want to do the race that day. I don't know. I just wasn't feeling it. I finished in 31:00...right at a 10 minute mile. Sadly, I wanted to finish in 28 minutes.
So today's 10k.
When I run races I generally have 3 goals:
1. Finish
2. Don't be last.
3. Run faster than the last time.
Goals 1 & 2 are fairly easy to accomplish and really aren't ever up for debate. I WILL finish and I WILL NOT be last.
It's goal 3 that gives me the most to run after. This is the first time I've repeated a distance, so before while I would be comparing apples & oranges for average pace, this time I'm comparing apples & apples for not just average pace but finish time. Only differences would be weather related.
And the fact that for the first time, I've actually been training. Well, I was 'training' for the 5k, but we won't talk about that day.
Lately I've been running at least 6 miles at least twice a week. In fact, last week, I ran over 6.2 miles twice (once, just shy of 6.5 miles) in 60 minutes. So my personal goal of finishing the 10k in less than 55 minutes seemed reasonable to me. Notice that I said "seemed reasonable to me."
Turns out, it wasn't reasonable.
Let's take a look at a few important factors:
Races are run outside; I run on the treadmill, exclusively.
Races are run outside in the heat; the gym isn't cool by any means, but it's not 80+ degrees with humidity.
Races have water stops; the TM has a spot to hold a water bottle...and I wasn't carrying one during the race.
Races have other people; there are no people slower than me on my TM that I have to weave around.
Races have hills; I run at a steady 1.5% incline on the TM.
Although it seemed like I was prepared for this race, turns out, I really wasn't. Sure, I finished. I even ran a good portion of it...possibly more than I ran during my last 10k. But my expectations certainly did not meet my level of preparedness.
On to the mile by mile (as I can remember them!):
Mile 0-1: I was frustrated. The beginning was horrid thanks to the strollers. The website clearly states that people pushing strollers should seed themselves at the BACK of the runners; to bad no one seemed to be enforcing this. There were several strollers seeded in front of me and caused several dangerous situations with me, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear that people were hurt because of them. Eventually as I got further along the stroller and walkers (who were walking 3-5 people across...) weren't as bothersome. I hit the 1st mile at 14:35 clock time; I was about 5 minutes behind clock time.
Mile 1-2: There was a water stop somewhere along this mile, I had run all the way to the water stop, took some water, and started running again. This was major for me, I've been struggling with running for more than 2 miles lately, but I've been increasing my stamina lately. There was also an uphill portion on a ramp or something, I ran up it. I can't remember the exact time the clock said when I hit mile 2, (I really need to invest in a Garmin.), but I think it was around 24:30.
Mile 2-3: Somewhere during this mile there was an 'extra' clock. Everyone around me was saying that we were half way and I was super excited because the clock said 31:43. Turns out that it wasn't halfway and I became angry at the people around me. I was still feeling pretty strong at this point, and I was surprising myself by being in the middle of the road, I usually hug the right side because of my slower pace/walking breaks. This is where we ran under the Mass Ave overpass. There was a water stop before we hit the turn to run under the overpass.
Mile 3-4: I think this is where my walking breaks became a little more frequent, although they weren't a huge part of my day. There were two water breaks during this mile, one shortly before the turnaround and one shortly after the turnaround. I like the turnaround because at the exact point of the turnaround, I can see everyone behind me and everyone in front of me. I wish the water stations had been further apart here...it seemed to be a little overkill to have them so close together and the 2nd one would have been better served closer to mile 4 (they were surrounding the half way point). I can't remember clock time when I hit mile 4 (must get Garmin), but I do remember thinking there was no way I was going to make my 55 minute goal.
Mile 4-5: No water breaks here. And it was long and hot. I think much of this mile was a straightaway in the sun. There were some shady parts (that I seem to remember from my half and the other 10k), but they were overshawdowed by the heat at this point. A little before the 5 mile mark we turned back down a 'residential' street (or as residential as you can get in downtown Boston), so there were parked cars again. I think I saw the clock say something around 56 or 57 minutes, I really wish I could remember. I do remember thinking that I might as well just speed up and run through the mile marker; the slower walkers were getting on my nerves even though I was one of them, plus I have this thing about walking through mile markers. This was a bad idea.
Mile 5-6: I started this mile with a sharp shooting pain on the right side of my stomach. It started when I sped up to pass some people and it only seemed to hurt whenever I took a step; no big deal, I wasn't running a race or anything. So even though I had just taken a walking break prior to the 5 mile mark, I had no choice but to walk at that point. I was in PAIN and half of me was actually thinking about quitting. Then I realized that there was a water stop up ahead and I decided to test it out and ran the short distance to the water station; not great but with a walk through the water (and some water! finally!), I should be good to finish. And that's when I realized that the water station was staffed completely by guys in tuxes. Well, played Tufts, well played. It was shortly past this point that we turned onto Arlington Street which signaled the almost end...and the first part of the course that I really don't like. I don't know WHY I don't like running down Arlington Street, but I don't. Maybe it's that I'm usually casually WALKING down the street or maybe it's because it's at this point where you are so close, yet so far away. I think I hit the mile 6 clock at 1:10 or so...officially past my previous 10k finish time. Although I tried to run the whole way from Arlington to the end, it didn't work; I took at least one walking break between turning onto Arlington and mile 6.
Mile 6-6.2: This is the 2nd part of the course that I really don't like. We turn onto Charles Street and it's at this point that the end is...so...far...away. In fact, I wasn't actually sure where the end was; I kept thinking it was closer than it actually was. I think the last .1 of a mile I kept trying to push myself faster and faster, but it just wasn't working; I *think* I ran the entire last .2 of a mile, but I'm not sure. I honestly can't remember what the clock said when I crossed the timing mats; I just wanted water at that point.
I won't lie. I was a little disappointed to not get a finisher's medal at the end. It seems that they don't have finisher's medals for this race. As bad as it sounds, if I had realized that prior to signing up for the race, I probably wouldn't have signed up for it. I run for medals.
Will I do this race again? Probably. I am the type of person who will always try to better my time, so next year I'll run this race against this year's time...and the time from my fastest 10k to date.
So...really no detailed update for the other two races.
The 10k was warm (I think?) and there were tough parts. I wanted to finish in an hour, and I finished in 1:04:52. Not great, but not terrible either.
The 5k was brutal. To put it mildly, I wanted to quite after about 15 minutes. It was a little warm, but not horribly hot, but I didn't really want to do the race that day. I don't know. I just wasn't feeling it. I finished in 31:00...right at a 10 minute mile. Sadly, I wanted to finish in 28 minutes.
So today's 10k.
When I run races I generally have 3 goals:
1. Finish
2. Don't be last.
3. Run faster than the last time.
Goals 1 & 2 are fairly easy to accomplish and really aren't ever up for debate. I WILL finish and I WILL NOT be last.
It's goal 3 that gives me the most to run after. This is the first time I've repeated a distance, so before while I would be comparing apples & oranges for average pace, this time I'm comparing apples & apples for not just average pace but finish time. Only differences would be weather related.
And the fact that for the first time, I've actually been training. Well, I was 'training' for the 5k, but we won't talk about that day.
Lately I've been running at least 6 miles at least twice a week. In fact, last week, I ran over 6.2 miles twice (once, just shy of 6.5 miles) in 60 minutes. So my personal goal of finishing the 10k in less than 55 minutes seemed reasonable to me. Notice that I said "seemed reasonable to me."
Turns out, it wasn't reasonable.
Let's take a look at a few important factors:
Races are run outside; I run on the treadmill, exclusively.
Races are run outside in the heat; the gym isn't cool by any means, but it's not 80+ degrees with humidity.
Races have water stops; the TM has a spot to hold a water bottle...and I wasn't carrying one during the race.
Races have other people; there are no people slower than me on my TM that I have to weave around.
Races have hills; I run at a steady 1.5% incline on the TM.
Although it seemed like I was prepared for this race, turns out, I really wasn't. Sure, I finished. I even ran a good portion of it...possibly more than I ran during my last 10k. But my expectations certainly did not meet my level of preparedness.
On to the mile by mile (as I can remember them!):
Mile 0-1: I was frustrated. The beginning was horrid thanks to the strollers. The website clearly states that people pushing strollers should seed themselves at the BACK of the runners; to bad no one seemed to be enforcing this. There were several strollers seeded in front of me and caused several dangerous situations with me, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear that people were hurt because of them. Eventually as I got further along the stroller and walkers (who were walking 3-5 people across...) weren't as bothersome. I hit the 1st mile at 14:35 clock time; I was about 5 minutes behind clock time.
Mile 1-2: There was a water stop somewhere along this mile, I had run all the way to the water stop, took some water, and started running again. This was major for me, I've been struggling with running for more than 2 miles lately, but I've been increasing my stamina lately. There was also an uphill portion on a ramp or something, I ran up it. I can't remember the exact time the clock said when I hit mile 2, (I really need to invest in a Garmin.), but I think it was around 24:30.
Mile 2-3: Somewhere during this mile there was an 'extra' clock. Everyone around me was saying that we were half way and I was super excited because the clock said 31:43. Turns out that it wasn't halfway and I became angry at the people around me. I was still feeling pretty strong at this point, and I was surprising myself by being in the middle of the road, I usually hug the right side because of my slower pace/walking breaks. This is where we ran under the Mass Ave overpass. There was a water stop before we hit the turn to run under the overpass.
Mile 3-4: I think this is where my walking breaks became a little more frequent, although they weren't a huge part of my day. There were two water breaks during this mile, one shortly before the turnaround and one shortly after the turnaround. I like the turnaround because at the exact point of the turnaround, I can see everyone behind me and everyone in front of me. I wish the water stations had been further apart here...it seemed to be a little overkill to have them so close together and the 2nd one would have been better served closer to mile 4 (they were surrounding the half way point). I can't remember clock time when I hit mile 4 (must get Garmin), but I do remember thinking there was no way I was going to make my 55 minute goal.
Mile 4-5: No water breaks here. And it was long and hot. I think much of this mile was a straightaway in the sun. There were some shady parts (that I seem to remember from my half and the other 10k), but they were overshawdowed by the heat at this point. A little before the 5 mile mark we turned back down a 'residential' street (or as residential as you can get in downtown Boston), so there were parked cars again. I think I saw the clock say something around 56 or 57 minutes, I really wish I could remember. I do remember thinking that I might as well just speed up and run through the mile marker; the slower walkers were getting on my nerves even though I was one of them, plus I have this thing about walking through mile markers. This was a bad idea.
Mile 5-6: I started this mile with a sharp shooting pain on the right side of my stomach. It started when I sped up to pass some people and it only seemed to hurt whenever I took a step; no big deal, I wasn't running a race or anything. So even though I had just taken a walking break prior to the 5 mile mark, I had no choice but to walk at that point. I was in PAIN and half of me was actually thinking about quitting. Then I realized that there was a water stop up ahead and I decided to test it out and ran the short distance to the water station; not great but with a walk through the water (and some water! finally!), I should be good to finish. And that's when I realized that the water station was staffed completely by guys in tuxes. Well, played Tufts, well played. It was shortly past this point that we turned onto Arlington Street which signaled the almost end...and the first part of the course that I really don't like. I don't know WHY I don't like running down Arlington Street, but I don't. Maybe it's that I'm usually casually WALKING down the street or maybe it's because it's at this point where you are so close, yet so far away. I think I hit the mile 6 clock at 1:10 or so...officially past my previous 10k finish time. Although I tried to run the whole way from Arlington to the end, it didn't work; I took at least one walking break between turning onto Arlington and mile 6.
Mile 6-6.2: This is the 2nd part of the course that I really don't like. We turn onto Charles Street and it's at this point that the end is...so...far...away. In fact, I wasn't actually sure where the end was; I kept thinking it was closer than it actually was. I think the last .1 of a mile I kept trying to push myself faster and faster, but it just wasn't working; I *think* I ran the entire last .2 of a mile, but I'm not sure. I honestly can't remember what the clock said when I crossed the timing mats; I just wanted water at that point.
I won't lie. I was a little disappointed to not get a finisher's medal at the end. It seems that they don't have finisher's medals for this race. As bad as it sounds, if I had realized that prior to signing up for the race, I probably wouldn't have signed up for it. I run for medals.
Will I do this race again? Probably. I am the type of person who will always try to better my time, so next year I'll run this race against this year's time...and the time from my fastest 10k to date.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
She Runs Again
Managed to make it to the gym with enough time to run a 'quick' (ha!) 5k on the TM AND spend 7 minutes just walking it all off. Amazing!
Actually, with the exception of the pauses (some deliberate, some accidental...) and the extended walking breaks, it wasn't to terrible. I managed to finish 3.1 miles in 32:15.
I think I'll get back to where I left off eventually and will hopefully be ready for the 10k at the end of this month.
It's hot and nasty out. Proof? Subway for dinner. Again. And I REALLY want Chinese food...I crave Chinese when it gets hot out, for New Years, and when a new Harry Potter book came out (don't ask...not even I understand it). I really don't like Chinese food that much...well, I don't like the 'healthy' stuff all that much. I LOVE sesame chicken, egg rolls, crab ragoon, etc. Basically anything bad for you. Steamed veggies? Not so much.
Actually, with the exception of the pauses (some deliberate, some accidental...) and the extended walking breaks, it wasn't to terrible. I managed to finish 3.1 miles in 32:15.
I think I'll get back to where I left off eventually and will hopefully be ready for the 10k at the end of this month.
It's hot and nasty out. Proof? Subway for dinner. Again. And I REALLY want Chinese food...I crave Chinese when it gets hot out, for New Years, and when a new Harry Potter book came out (don't ask...not even I understand it). I really don't like Chinese food that much...well, I don't like the 'healthy' stuff all that much. I LOVE sesame chicken, egg rolls, crab ragoon, etc. Basically anything bad for you. Steamed veggies? Not so much.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Corporate Challenge
Seems I lied...the 10k on June 26th wasn't going to be my next race.
Run #2 of my life. The JPMorgan Corporate Challenge in Boston. 3.5 miles through the city. On June 2, 2011. Only 4 days after my half.
Overall, a much better showing on my part. 36:38. 10:28/mile. Not bad. Definitely better than the 11:51 that I pulled at the half.
A much shorter race and it had a very different environment. 12,000 people. And they all seemed to start where I did.
I ran with 3 of my co-workers. Well, ran is to generous of a word. We started together. Within 5 minutes I had lost all three of them. The two women were walking...the guy started walking with them, gave it up and ran. I still managed to finish over 12 minutes faster than he did. Ha. I rule. The two women? Yea. Didn't even walk all 3.5 miles. Didn't think they would anyway.
And...well. That's it. Ran from Charles Street to Kenmore and back. Finished less than 2 minutes slower than one of my staff...the one that ran the 5 mile part of the half. Made me feel pretty good about myself.
Now...10k on June 26th really IS the next race.
Run #2 of my life. The JPMorgan Corporate Challenge in Boston. 3.5 miles through the city. On June 2, 2011. Only 4 days after my half.
Overall, a much better showing on my part. 36:38. 10:28/mile. Not bad. Definitely better than the 11:51 that I pulled at the half.
A much shorter race and it had a very different environment. 12,000 people. And they all seemed to start where I did.
I ran with 3 of my co-workers. Well, ran is to generous of a word. We started together. Within 5 minutes I had lost all three of them. The two women were walking...the guy started walking with them, gave it up and ran. I still managed to finish over 12 minutes faster than he did. Ha. I rule. The two women? Yea. Didn't even walk all 3.5 miles. Didn't think they would anyway.
And...well. That's it. Ran from Charles Street to Kenmore and back. Finished less than 2 minutes slower than one of my staff...the one that ran the 5 mile part of the half. Made me feel pretty good about myself.
Now...10k on June 26th really IS the next race.
Boston's Run to Remember
On May 29th I ran a half marathon!
With ZERO training! Breaking EVERY race rule!
Things I did/didn't do:
-haven't run more than a couple miles in 7 weeks - haven't run period in almost 2 weeks
-wore new clothes (new crops, new tank w/built-in bra, new socks, new hat)
-used Body Glide (probably the best 'mistake' I ever made! No blisters! No chaffing!)
-ate/drank new things (Gatorade and Gu) - not to mention drank water while running
-longest run I've ever done prior? 5.15 miles
-ran outside - I've NEVER run outside before
All that being said - my unofficial time was 2 hours, 37 minutes, 11 seconds.
I had 3 goals going into this (which, by the way, I wasn't even sure I was doing until this morning - I kept changing my mind):
1. Not get diverted to the 5 mile race
2. Not be the last person to cross the finish line
3. Finish the half in less than 3 hours
As you can see, reaching goals 2 & 3 required me to reach the first goal - and I think I was so nervous that I'd miss the time limit on meeting 2 miles, that I went to fast at the beginning (another newbie mistake). I hit 2 miles at about 8:15 - after crossing the start line around 7:57 or 7:58...I KILLED those first two miles, around a 9 minute/mile! I remember thinking as I passed the Mile 2 Marker and seeing the 5 mile/half marathon split that I was crossing the point of no return...I was either running a half marathon or quitting. And I felt...good.
I took a few walking breaks, but ran most of the first half of the half...I felt good for the most part (although I did see a Starbucks and wanted nothing more than to stop...and give up this crazy idea of mine!). There were parts that had plenty of spectators cheering people on, but most of the time it was pretty empty, or there were people who were only cheering for their friends/family...I had expected more.
I remember looking at the 5 mile marker - but I don't remember what the time was!
I do know that when we reached the turn around (and the volunteers there were wonderful - or maybe it was just that one girl that yelled at EVERYONE that passed by that they 'had this...you can do it') that I crossed that line at 1 hour 6 minutes and change! I had ran 6.5 miles in a little over an hour! I was PUMPED and it was at that point that I A) knew I was finishing and B) "officially" changed goal #3 to 2 1/2 hours! (I had been thinking 2 1/2 hours earlier...mile 5 ish?)
Which was probably a mistake...I was doing good until around Mile 8ish. I started having longer walk breaks and shorter running periods. I hit mile 10 at just under 2 hours (1 hour 56 minutes), but I was pretty sure I wouldn't make it to the end in 34 more minutes. And by the time I hit Mile 11 I was done. THOSE volunteers were the BEST - one guy was running up and down the line telling everyone that he wanted us to finish and that we could do it...there were only 2 more miles left, we made it THIS far, we HAD to go all the way!
Those last 2.1 miles were the longest 2.1 miles of my life.
I altered my 3rd goal to finish in 2 hours 45 minutes...which gave me about half an hour or a little more (I think? I don't think it took me 19 minutes from miles 10-11...or maybe it did...) to finish.
I basically walked the last 2.1 miles...a few spurts of running here and there (when we were in Downtown Crossing someone was washing the sidewalk outside of his store & squirted us a little), some spurts longer than others - I discovered that if I just kept my head down and didn't look up I ran a little further, don't ask. My legs were SO heavy...there were points where I thought I was running, only to realize that I wasn't.
There was a woman who was dressing all in black and had blond pigtail braids...I pretty much tried to keep her in my sights (and keep up with her) from miles 8(ish) to the end, more so after mile 10. She was also employing a run/walk method, but she was running better than I and I lost her at the home stretch.
At the home stretch, there were more and more people - a lot of the people who had already finished were hanging out cheering people on. I think I managed to run the last 1/4 of a mile - but it might have been less. I was DETERMINED to run across the finish line - and I definitely made a point to check the clock for the unofficial time. 2 hours, 36 minutes, and 11 seconds.
I *almost* made my 2 1/2 hour goal! If I could have managed some longer (or more) runs, I think I could have made it.
Either way, I made all 3 of my original goals!
Up next - 10k on June 26th. Which just so happens to be my 5 year work anniversary.
With ZERO training! Breaking EVERY race rule!
Things I did/didn't do:
-haven't run more than a couple miles in 7 weeks - haven't run period in almost 2 weeks
-wore new clothes (new crops, new tank w/built-in bra, new socks, new hat)
-used Body Glide (probably the best 'mistake' I ever made! No blisters! No chaffing!)
-ate/drank new things (Gatorade and Gu) - not to mention drank water while running
-longest run I've ever done prior? 5.15 miles
-ran outside - I've NEVER run outside before
All that being said - my unofficial time was 2 hours, 37 minutes, 11 seconds.
I had 3 goals going into this (which, by the way, I wasn't even sure I was doing until this morning - I kept changing my mind):
1. Not get diverted to the 5 mile race
2. Not be the last person to cross the finish line
3. Finish the half in less than 3 hours
As you can see, reaching goals 2 & 3 required me to reach the first goal - and I think I was so nervous that I'd miss the time limit on meeting 2 miles, that I went to fast at the beginning (another newbie mistake). I hit 2 miles at about 8:15 - after crossing the start line around 7:57 or 7:58...I KILLED those first two miles, around a 9 minute/mile! I remember thinking as I passed the Mile 2 Marker and seeing the 5 mile/half marathon split that I was crossing the point of no return...I was either running a half marathon or quitting. And I felt...good.
I took a few walking breaks, but ran most of the first half of the half...I felt good for the most part (although I did see a Starbucks and wanted nothing more than to stop...and give up this crazy idea of mine!). There were parts that had plenty of spectators cheering people on, but most of the time it was pretty empty, or there were people who were only cheering for their friends/family...I had expected more.
I remember looking at the 5 mile marker - but I don't remember what the time was!
I do know that when we reached the turn around (and the volunteers there were wonderful - or maybe it was just that one girl that yelled at EVERYONE that passed by that they 'had this...you can do it') that I crossed that line at 1 hour 6 minutes and change! I had ran 6.5 miles in a little over an hour! I was PUMPED and it was at that point that I A) knew I was finishing and B) "officially" changed goal #3 to 2 1/2 hours! (I had been thinking 2 1/2 hours earlier...mile 5 ish?)
Which was probably a mistake...I was doing good until around Mile 8ish. I started having longer walk breaks and shorter running periods. I hit mile 10 at just under 2 hours (1 hour 56 minutes), but I was pretty sure I wouldn't make it to the end in 34 more minutes. And by the time I hit Mile 11 I was done. THOSE volunteers were the BEST - one guy was running up and down the line telling everyone that he wanted us to finish and that we could do it...there were only 2 more miles left, we made it THIS far, we HAD to go all the way!
Those last 2.1 miles were the longest 2.1 miles of my life.
I altered my 3rd goal to finish in 2 hours 45 minutes...which gave me about half an hour or a little more (I think? I don't think it took me 19 minutes from miles 10-11...or maybe it did...) to finish.
I basically walked the last 2.1 miles...a few spurts of running here and there (when we were in Downtown Crossing someone was washing the sidewalk outside of his store & squirted us a little), some spurts longer than others - I discovered that if I just kept my head down and didn't look up I ran a little further, don't ask. My legs were SO heavy...there were points where I thought I was running, only to realize that I wasn't.
There was a woman who was dressing all in black and had blond pigtail braids...I pretty much tried to keep her in my sights (and keep up with her) from miles 8(ish) to the end, more so after mile 10. She was also employing a run/walk method, but she was running better than I and I lost her at the home stretch.
At the home stretch, there were more and more people - a lot of the people who had already finished were hanging out cheering people on. I think I managed to run the last 1/4 of a mile - but it might have been less. I was DETERMINED to run across the finish line - and I definitely made a point to check the clock for the unofficial time. 2 hours, 36 minutes, and 11 seconds.
I *almost* made my 2 1/2 hour goal! If I could have managed some longer (or more) runs, I think I could have made it.
Either way, I made all 3 of my original goals!
Up next - 10k on June 26th. Which just so happens to be my 5 year work anniversary.
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