Two years ago I ran the America's Finest City Half Marathon in San Diego and ran a horrible race. I saw the finish clock as I ran towards it hit 2:00 and keep going. In 2009, I ran a 2:00:42. My time -- as painful as it was when all my friends ran much faster times -- was okay for the race but it was the way that I ran the race that was so bad.
The race starts at historic Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma. The first mile or two are relatively flat and run through the cemetery and then through beautiful neighborhoods. Then the course drops. The next five or so miles are downhill and fast. In 2009, I started the race with friends and when we hit the downhill we were flying. I remember checking out my Garmin and seeing it read sub-7:00 pace which is way too fast for me. And, of course, I died at the bottom. The route flattens out at this point for a few miles along the harbor before ramping back up through downtown to Balboa Park. I had zero energy left for even the flat portions. The hill to Balboa Park was a nightmare.
This year, I'm running my own race. Imagine that! AFC is this weekend and I plan to run a very smart race and walking away with at least a sub 1:50 finish. The weather could be a factor. The hill at the end will definitely be a factor. But I'm prepared and I have a game plan. I'm ready to kick this race's butt the way it kicked mine two years ago.
Do you have a race like that? One where you ran horribly and have plans to run it again, only smarter?
Showing posts with label racing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label racing. Show all posts
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Event fees
It wasn't that long ago that running races didn't cost all that much. I miss the days of going to my local running store in Portland (Ore.), filling out the race registration on the store's counter and walking away with my bib and shirt. It wasn't long ago -- maybe 10 or 12 years ago?? Today, we have to register online because registering via snail mail will often actually cost you more. There are always fees and the race fees themselves just keep going up.
A friend recently changed her mind about running a local San Diego race this month. She had registered late for the race and with fees, she paid $102 and some change. A mutual friend bought the bib from her during the transfer window for the full amount and then still had to pay the $20 transfer fee. In all, over $120 for a HALF MARATHON. I know the Rock-n-Roll series are expensive, but this isn't even one of their races. This just blows my mind, esp. when I learned tonight that recently the inaugural Hollywood Half Marathon (April 2012) offered a $39 special to register. What a difference in price!
The races are just getting too expensive. I'm running the same San Diego race later this month and also purchased a bib from someone who paid $102 and change. My limit was $50, which she accepted since she was injured. I feel comfortable with $50 for a half marathon (esp. since it will be in her name, not mine), or even $60. But upwards of $120?
What about you? What are you willing to pay for races? Dependent on distance? Location? Extras that come in the goodie bag? I never wear the t-shirts and my bib and medal go into a box. I personally could do without all the extras, I just want to run!
A friend recently changed her mind about running a local San Diego race this month. She had registered late for the race and with fees, she paid $102 and some change. A mutual friend bought the bib from her during the transfer window for the full amount and then still had to pay the $20 transfer fee. In all, over $120 for a HALF MARATHON. I know the Rock-n-Roll series are expensive, but this isn't even one of their races. This just blows my mind, esp. when I learned tonight that recently the inaugural Hollywood Half Marathon (April 2012) offered a $39 special to register. What a difference in price!
The races are just getting too expensive. I'm running the same San Diego race later this month and also purchased a bib from someone who paid $102 and change. My limit was $50, which she accepted since she was injured. I feel comfortable with $50 for a half marathon (esp. since it will be in her name, not mine), or even $60. But upwards of $120?
What about you? What are you willing to pay for races? Dependent on distance? Location? Extras that come in the goodie bag? I never wear the t-shirts and my bib and medal go into a box. I personally could do without all the extras, I just want to run!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Any one up for 196 miles?
Ok everyone..... another race I need your help with! I am looking for a few more people to join a group of us to run the Ragnar Relay Series in Austin October 24-25! There are about six of us here all ready and we are looking for six more. It is a relay so no you don't run all 196 miles by yourself. We have a really fun group of girls but just need some more. If any of your husbands want to do it too there is a group of men getting together from our church so they could join them too and you could make it a great get away weekend! Here is the quick scoop (click on the race link for the whole scoop and great doable training plans even for the beginner runner...
1. We need a team of 12
2. Each team member runs 3 legs ranging from 3-8 miles
3. It is on a Friday/ Saturday :)
4. Yes I am doing St. George 3 weeks before so you can too :)
5. We need to register our team by the end of June to get the best rate
Email me at info@theribbonspot.com if you want in :)
1. We need a team of 12
2. Each team member runs 3 legs ranging from 3-8 miles
3. It is on a Friday/ Saturday :)
4. Yes I am doing St. George 3 weeks before so you can too :)
5. We need to register our team by the end of June to get the best rate
Email me at info@theribbonspot.com if you want in :)
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Calling all PRINCESS'!!!
OK so as you can see from the upcoming race schedule on the right I LOVE the Disney races! They are very well organized and a lot of FUN! Well they have just opened a new race (yes I just registered for it) for next spring that is right up my alley... and maybe yours too! It is the Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend !!! Yep that's right... a whole race devoted to princesses!!!! Just thought I would pass on the exciting news. Oh yea.... the medal is a tiara!!!!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Erin's SLC 1/2 Marathon 2008
My 1/2 Marathon Recap...
Friday afternoon I got to meet my great friends and examples at the Marathon Mommies, Carb Party. This ended up being so much fun and I was so grateful for the opportunity of meeting everyone. Truly Sisters-Bound by Sweat and Blood
I could have stayed and chatted all night long, but my good sport husband Scott was just driving around SLC waiting for me to finish, so alas, I had to leave. When I dropped off Angela she shared a quote with me.
"There is no substitute for Preparation."
This quote did not make me feel better. As you all know, I procrastinated my training and did not prepare properly. Stupid Erin!
Scott & I then had the chance to check out the Marathon Expo and then we went to dinner to get Scott some yummy carbs.
I really felt like I wanted to drive the course so that I would know where I was at and could gauge my distance. Scott was kind enough to drive me the entire course. With traffic this took us over an hour and I kept thinking to myself...how in the world am I going to run 13.1 miles. It seemed so far...and so impossible. I was terrified and scared to death.
I got back to the Hilton and took a minute to read over all of my support emails and blog comments and Kristi's Marathon and then it was time to pack.
I then started laying out all of my supplies.
For those of you seasoned runners, you can skip this part, but I was new to running and I did a lot of research for what I might need. I am also the kind of person that likes to over pack, so take it or leave it, this is what I carried with me on my run.
Fanny Pack ( I loved this. It was not kind to my love handles as it squished everything I had into a muffin top, but I loved having it to carry all my stuff.)
Cell phone (In case of Emergency, and to contact my family after the race. There were 12,000 participants.)
Hat (This I hooked on my fanny belt and didn't even use, but if it had been more sunny it would have come in handy.)
Wedding Rings (I forgot to take these off before I left the hotel, so I clipped them into my fanny pack so that my ring finger wouldn't explode)
Zip Lock Bag ( This has Ibuprofen in it, which I took every 5 miles, and also prenatal vitamins...thought I could use some extra strength vitamins, and Blocks-these are gummy endurance enhancers. I almost choked on them.)
GU (Power Bar gel packs with caffeine)
Ballmania (Oprah's Favorite things list: best lip balm on the planet-yellow ball)
BODY SHIELD (Okay, I owe my race to this stuff. One of my biggest concerns was chaffing and blisters and this stuff is amazing. I like it way better than body glide. It goes on thick and clear and you literally have to wash it off. This saved me the entire race. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Garmin (This GPS device is amazing! Thanks Santa Claus (mom). I wasn't sure if I wanted to use it because sometimes I become a slave to it when I am running. But it proved to keep me on track and helped me set some goals. Loved it. ~This device keeps track of miles, pace and time~
After laying out all my stuff I tried to get some shut eye. Let's just say that I didn't sleep at ALL. I rested and laid on the bed, but I didn't sleep. It was a long night and I was very nervous.
When 5AM rolled around Scott & I got up and got ready. We were then able to pray together and then it was time to split up. I had to walk to Trax to get a ride to the 1/2 Marathon and Marathon start and Scott had to get to the 5K starting line.
I felt really alone as I walked through downtown SLC by myself at 5AM. I was nervous, sick to my stomach and pretty much wanted to just turn around. When Trax finally came to pick me up, it was so crowded I could barely get on. The excitement in the air started to grow and I got to listen to 4 men in their 70's talk about running the marathon, 3 sisters who wanted to finish the marathon together just so they could have their picture taken...and so on. The spirit of the marathon was there.
When I got to Legacy Bridge, there were thousands and thousands of people everywhere. I didn't know what to do. I immediately got in the port-a-potty line, like I had been instructed to do and just waited. Luckily I had success (gross) and was able to calm my nerves.
I then was able to get a hold of Julia (my mentor) and meet her for the very first time. I felt pretty dumb because I immediately started crying. I was just so nervous and overcome with emotion. She was so awesome...like and angel and just told me I could do it. I didn't get to see her for long, I had to go and find my running partner JP.
Seeing JP was like a breathe of fresh air and I finally felt like I wasn't in it alone. Her family was there with her and they made me feel like part of the crew. This was the best therapy for a scared momma. (Make sure if you run a race like this to have a support team-mandatory).
JP, Marathon Erin and I headed to the starting line to line up. I didn't know what to expect and when we were finally able to run...about 10 minutes after the gun went off, I was relieved. It felt good to finally just get started and once I was actually running, all worries and doubts were dispelled.
Finally it was just me, JP and the Road. Within the first mile JP started having breathing problems, due to the altitude and needed to walk. This was hard for me because after all my worry and stress, I actually felt ready to roll. We walked a little and then ran and then walked a little and then ran. We stopped at mile 2 and stretched a bit (which I had completely forgot to do before the race).
Not long into the 3rd mile I had to press on ahead. I felt so bad leaving Jill because I knew that she could run faster than me on any given day, and I really wanted a partner, but I knew that I had to just go. I had to go while I could go and give it my best.
I pushed on and felt great. I know that this is due to some answered prayers so thank you Heavenly Father! I kept a slow and steady pace, but I was able to run and keep running. I was amazed at the support that came out. So many people made me feel like they were there cheering just for me. I slapped hands and thanked everyone I saw. At about mile 5 I saw a woman run past a police officer and totally cut the course. I started laughing and thought about all the times that I'd taken the easy way in life. I promised then and there not to cut even a corner. I was going to run 13.1 no matter what.
At mile 5 I tried to down some blocks, which I choked on, and took some Ibuprofen. Every mile I passed I kept thinking to myself, I feel great, I feel great? What...I feel great? I teared up every time I passed a mile marker because I just couldn't believe that I was 'really doing it'.
I chatted with people here and there. I rocked out to my play list with included crazy songs that I loved and will post later. I love my play list!
When I reached the half way mark I was amazed. I knew that I had to get tired soon but I just couldn't believe how strong I felt. I kept thinking of the quote that Kesli sent me. Thanks Kes!
At mile 9 I started feeling a few blisters. I debated just finishing, but then decided to just stop, take my shoe off, and rub on some Body Shield. This took me a few minutes, but the pain was instantly gone and I feel that this was the right move.
I had set a time for myself to finish at 3:30 minutes. I really thought that I was going to have to walk. But at about mile 9 I set a new goal for myself of 2:40 minutes. Almost an hour faster. (Thanks Garmin for keeping track of my numbers).
This was about the time that the Marathon Leaders passed me. I was so excited that I just stared screaming and cheering as loud as I could. I didn't know what to do. They were passing me at my mile 9 and their mile 22. WHAT? This was insane.
At about mile 10 I started to slow down. I really started to feel my body and 3 more miles seemed hard. About that time I saw JP's family and got a little boost. I just pushed and pushed, slow but steady.
At mile 11 I ran into a girl that had been pacing herself off me and I off her. She started to walk and I started to pass her and I said to her, "don't you dare walk, you are running with me." This proved helpful because about a mile later when I wanted to walk, she pushed me the same way.
When we turned the corner into the gateway at mile 13 I was set. I took off as fast as I could, at a 6.91 mile pace and just pushed through the finish line. I forgot to take out my headphones so I didn't know if anyone had cheered for me, but it didn't matter. I did it! I did it! I finished under 3 hours at 2:50:51. I was so pleased with my time. And amazed that I was able to run the entire way.
I got a little bit sad when I couldn't find my family. But when I finally found them they were shocked that I had finished already! That was a compliment. I totally surprised them, and myself.
I spent the next few hours cheering on the Marathon Runners. I was right by the finish line and had fun trying to get the runners to cry. One woman heard me cheering and almost had to stop because she got so emotional. So fun!
I proud of myself. Yep I am. I can't wait for the next race.
There is still life left in these bones!
Friday afternoon I got to meet my great friends and examples at the Marathon Mommies, Carb Party. This ended up being so much fun and I was so grateful for the opportunity of meeting everyone. Truly Sisters-Bound by Sweat and Blood
I could have stayed and chatted all night long, but my good sport husband Scott was just driving around SLC waiting for me to finish, so alas, I had to leave. When I dropped off Angela she shared a quote with me.
"There is no substitute for Preparation."
This quote did not make me feel better. As you all know, I procrastinated my training and did not prepare properly. Stupid Erin!
Scott & I then had the chance to check out the Marathon Expo and then we went to dinner to get Scott some yummy carbs.
I really felt like I wanted to drive the course so that I would know where I was at and could gauge my distance. Scott was kind enough to drive me the entire course. With traffic this took us over an hour and I kept thinking to myself...how in the world am I going to run 13.1 miles. It seemed so far...and so impossible. I was terrified and scared to death.
I got back to the Hilton and took a minute to read over all of my support emails and blog comments and Kristi's Marathon and then it was time to pack.
I then started laying out all of my supplies.
For those of you seasoned runners, you can skip this part, but I was new to running and I did a lot of research for what I might need. I am also the kind of person that likes to over pack, so take it or leave it, this is what I carried with me on my run.
Fanny Pack ( I loved this. It was not kind to my love handles as it squished everything I had into a muffin top, but I loved having it to carry all my stuff.)
Cell phone (In case of Emergency, and to contact my family after the race. There were 12,000 participants.)
Hat (This I hooked on my fanny belt and didn't even use, but if it had been more sunny it would have come in handy.)
Wedding Rings (I forgot to take these off before I left the hotel, so I clipped them into my fanny pack so that my ring finger wouldn't explode)
Zip Lock Bag ( This has Ibuprofen in it, which I took every 5 miles, and also prenatal vitamins...thought I could use some extra strength vitamins, and Blocks-these are gummy endurance enhancers. I almost choked on them.)
GU (Power Bar gel packs with caffeine)
Ballmania (Oprah's Favorite things list: best lip balm on the planet-yellow ball)
BODY SHIELD (Okay, I owe my race to this stuff. One of my biggest concerns was chaffing and blisters and this stuff is amazing. I like it way better than body glide. It goes on thick and clear and you literally have to wash it off. This saved me the entire race. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Garmin (This GPS device is amazing! Thanks Santa Claus (mom). I wasn't sure if I wanted to use it because sometimes I become a slave to it when I am running. But it proved to keep me on track and helped me set some goals. Loved it. ~This device keeps track of miles, pace and time~
After laying out all my stuff I tried to get some shut eye. Let's just say that I didn't sleep at ALL. I rested and laid on the bed, but I didn't sleep. It was a long night and I was very nervous.
When 5AM rolled around Scott & I got up and got ready. We were then able to pray together and then it was time to split up. I had to walk to Trax to get a ride to the 1/2 Marathon and Marathon start and Scott had to get to the 5K starting line.
I felt really alone as I walked through downtown SLC by myself at 5AM. I was nervous, sick to my stomach and pretty much wanted to just turn around. When Trax finally came to pick me up, it was so crowded I could barely get on. The excitement in the air started to grow and I got to listen to 4 men in their 70's talk about running the marathon, 3 sisters who wanted to finish the marathon together just so they could have their picture taken...and so on. The spirit of the marathon was there.
When I got to Legacy Bridge, there were thousands and thousands of people everywhere. I didn't know what to do. I immediately got in the port-a-potty line, like I had been instructed to do and just waited. Luckily I had success (gross) and was able to calm my nerves.
I then was able to get a hold of Julia (my mentor) and meet her for the very first time. I felt pretty dumb because I immediately started crying. I was just so nervous and overcome with emotion. She was so awesome...like and angel and just told me I could do it. I didn't get to see her for long, I had to go and find my running partner JP.
Seeing JP was like a breathe of fresh air and I finally felt like I wasn't in it alone. Her family was there with her and they made me feel like part of the crew. This was the best therapy for a scared momma. (Make sure if you run a race like this to have a support team-mandatory).
JP, Marathon Erin and I headed to the starting line to line up. I didn't know what to expect and when we were finally able to run...about 10 minutes after the gun went off, I was relieved. It felt good to finally just get started and once I was actually running, all worries and doubts were dispelled.
Finally it was just me, JP and the Road. Within the first mile JP started having breathing problems, due to the altitude and needed to walk. This was hard for me because after all my worry and stress, I actually felt ready to roll. We walked a little and then ran and then walked a little and then ran. We stopped at mile 2 and stretched a bit (which I had completely forgot to do before the race).
Not long into the 3rd mile I had to press on ahead. I felt so bad leaving Jill because I knew that she could run faster than me on any given day, and I really wanted a partner, but I knew that I had to just go. I had to go while I could go and give it my best.
I pushed on and felt great. I know that this is due to some answered prayers so thank you Heavenly Father! I kept a slow and steady pace, but I was able to run and keep running. I was amazed at the support that came out. So many people made me feel like they were there cheering just for me. I slapped hands and thanked everyone I saw. At about mile 5 I saw a woman run past a police officer and totally cut the course. I started laughing and thought about all the times that I'd taken the easy way in life. I promised then and there not to cut even a corner. I was going to run 13.1 no matter what.
At mile 5 I tried to down some blocks, which I choked on, and took some Ibuprofen. Every mile I passed I kept thinking to myself, I feel great, I feel great? What...I feel great? I teared up every time I passed a mile marker because I just couldn't believe that I was 'really doing it'.
I chatted with people here and there. I rocked out to my play list with included crazy songs that I loved and will post later. I love my play list!
When I reached the half way mark I was amazed. I knew that I had to get tired soon but I just couldn't believe how strong I felt. I kept thinking of the quote that Kesli sent me. Thanks Kes!
At mile 9 I started feeling a few blisters. I debated just finishing, but then decided to just stop, take my shoe off, and rub on some Body Shield. This took me a few minutes, but the pain was instantly gone and I feel that this was the right move.
I had set a time for myself to finish at 3:30 minutes. I really thought that I was going to have to walk. But at about mile 9 I set a new goal for myself of 2:40 minutes. Almost an hour faster. (Thanks Garmin for keeping track of my numbers).
This was about the time that the Marathon Leaders passed me. I was so excited that I just stared screaming and cheering as loud as I could. I didn't know what to do. They were passing me at my mile 9 and their mile 22. WHAT? This was insane.
At about mile 10 I started to slow down. I really started to feel my body and 3 more miles seemed hard. About that time I saw JP's family and got a little boost. I just pushed and pushed, slow but steady.
At mile 11 I ran into a girl that had been pacing herself off me and I off her. She started to walk and I started to pass her and I said to her, "don't you dare walk, you are running with me." This proved helpful because about a mile later when I wanted to walk, she pushed me the same way.
When we turned the corner into the gateway at mile 13 I was set. I took off as fast as I could, at a 6.91 mile pace and just pushed through the finish line. I forgot to take out my headphones so I didn't know if anyone had cheered for me, but it didn't matter. I did it! I did it! I finished under 3 hours at 2:50:51. I was so pleased with my time. And amazed that I was able to run the entire way.
I got a little bit sad when I couldn't find my family. But when I finally found them they were shocked that I had finished already! That was a compliment. I totally surprised them, and myself.
I spent the next few hours cheering on the Marathon Runners. I was right by the finish line and had fun trying to get the runners to cry. One woman heard me cheering and almost had to stop because she got so emotional. So fun!
I proud of myself. Yep I am. I can't wait for the next race.
Kimm and Scott After the Race!
There is still life left in these bones!
Amber & Erin
Scott & Erin
- Meeting my Mentor Julia in person...she took me under her wing and developed a 5 week training program for me so I could run the SLC 1/2 even after skipping 7 weeks of training.
- Carb Loading with the Marathon Mommies who probably thought I was a psycho, but I just couldn't contain my excitement. I loved all of them so much! Way to go ladies!
- Starting the race with my partner in crime JP, AKA Thing 2, Lightning Jill, or Turtleneck
- Running my first 1/2 Marathon in beautiful Utah on a course that had a great downgrade
- Running on a beautiful day with a great wind (I think a lot of people hated the wind, but I trained in Blackfoot, so I welcomed it, I stayed so cool the whole race!)
- Passing every mile post and thinking to myself, wow...I'm still running and I feel great.
- Seeing JP's family at mile 10 and hearing them cheer for me!
- Thinking about all of my friends and family as I ran and wondering how I got so lucky to have so much support
- Passing Sugarhouse park (where I had my horrible Beat The New Year Run) and thinking to myself, SEE YA SUCKER!
- High Fiving all the kids that were out cheering on the racers
- Being a Participant and not just a Spectator
- Seeing the frontrunner's in the Marathon Pass me at my mile 9 and their mile 22. They were so awesome!
- Finishing with no one at the finish line for me because they weren't planning on me finishing that soon. I love a good surprise.
- Crossing the finish line sprinting at 6.94 mile pace because I still had some juice left.
- Having my Sister-in-Law Amber at the finish line cheering me on and telling me she felt like she was my mom, she was so proud!
- Finishing something that I started. I actually reached my goal!
- To Julia for believing in me and taking the time to write me thoughtful, encouraging emails to get me through my training.
- To Scott for supporting me and for letting me buy all the little gizmo's that I was sure would help me on the race. Oh, and for swapping me ipods so that I didn't have to run with my big dog!
- To my mom, for helping me get over the cold that hit me on Friday. You worked a miracle and I felt great on Saturday.
- To my alarm clock, for going off right on time, even though I never fell asleep the entire night. Good job!
- To my muffin top and my cankles, for working harder than you have in a while and for carrying me through to the end.
- To my blogging friends, for posting words of encouragement and support that I thought about through the entire race.
- For my sore muscles, for still being sore and being a constant reminder that I am awesome because I did something this cool for you to be sore.
- For Suzie P & M&M, and Sarah's Mom, for entertaining all of us Marathon Mommies and providing delicious Carbs!
- For JP & Sarah...for making me laugh and for liking me and taking my picture. (Feel free to edit out the above mentioned muffin top and cankles)
- To my Mom & Dad, for watching my little ones...which can be so HARD. Thanks for taking them for me! I couldn't have done this without you.
- For The Girls...you know who you are...my lovely family that ran all sorts of different races this day...you all believed in me.
- To my Dylan who asked me on the phone after the race...Did you Win? I of course replied...YES! And then he said, wow, you beat dad!
- To my sport shield, for no chaffing and preventing blisters!
- To my bladder, for holding it through the entire race.
- To my Heavenly Father...for hearing my prayers and answering all of them...Thank you!
Jana & Jeff and Family Plus Lindser who I love!
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Anyone Running the Ogden Marathon or Half?
I have a friend who was going to run the Ogden half marathon, but she is injured. She has already paid $40 to register. They allow the transferring of registrations, so if you are interested let me know. The $40 could be used for either the half or the full marathon registration fee. Comment here or email me at suziepetunia@gmail.com.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Midnight Run - New Years Eve 2007
Finally! Here is the video my husband took of me, M&M, Ranell and Jen crossing the finish line at the Portland Midnight Run on New Years Eve (5K). We had a blast! It was crazy and fun (not to mention COLD!) starting a race at the stroke of midnight. I was lucky enough to have my husband with us as our chauffeur, photographer and chaperon, so I even got a kiss at midnight just as the gun went off. Considering the fact that I usually spend my New Years Eve curled up at home with a movie and ample treats, this was different in a very good way. What a great way to begin the new year!
The first segment shows the start of the race, the second is me crossing the finish, the third part is M&M, but it is hard to tell which one she is. (sorry!) The last segment shows Ranell and Jen finishing together. I hope we make this a tradition for years to come. Join us next year!
The first segment shows the start of the race, the second is me crossing the finish, the third part is M&M, but it is hard to tell which one she is. (sorry!) The last segment shows Ranell and Jen finishing together. I hope we make this a tradition for years to come. Join us next year!
Monday, January 14, 2008
We are Nookachamps!
The first official Marathon Mommy Meetup went very well! I didn't meet up with Ang and her brother Jordan until just before the race started. It was great to finally meet in person(and I loved her skirt)! She is just as nice and fun as she seems on her blog. Next time, I hope to be able to stay and hang out more. We barely made it to the starting line, and I didn't even hear a gun go off, I just saw the crowd start moving! The weather was perfect and it was a beautiful course. Ang and I started off together, but I was kind of doing an experiment with my heart rate and keeping it lower for the first mile, so she speeded ahead. I saw her just ahead of me for most of the race. At the halfway mark, I was getting excited to speed up and then at mile 8 there was a short steep hill that took me by surprise. I watched Ang power to the top and I must admit, I was very impressed! After that hill I was able to get going again, but then at mile 11, there was a long gradual uphill that just got the better of me. It was fun to see Ang at the finish line. I had hoped to catch up and get to race part of it with her, but it just wasn't my day. However, I am meeting with a sports medicine doctor so I can finally get my crazy heart rate/asthma stuff figured out so I can just run! I was also able to meet Ang's sis in law Lindsay who will be in Salt Lake with us. It was her very first half marathon and she did awesome!! You can read her report here.
Final time: 1:58 something! (It wasn't a very official race!!)
Ang, I am so proud of you! I can't wait to read your report and I am excited to meet other mommies in Salt Lake City!!
PS
This is not running related, but it is definitely mommy related. I was able to go to the race by myself! It is a 4 hour drive and I went to spend time with my aunt for her 50th birthday. I had a wonderful time! She was very cute and came to the race and took pictures. She got to see a little of this crazy running world!
PPS
Suzie, will you kindly post pictures from our New Years Run? We should probably do a report for that. :-)
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Another Turkey Trot!
I also ran a 10K on Thanksgiving morning. Two of my kids ran the 5K and I was one proud mommy. My kids like to run! This is the one thing I know I'm doing right as a mom. ...One more good reason to make myself get up tomorrow morning and face that cold, dark run!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Turkey Trot report
Reprinted almost verbatim from my own blog...
D [hubby] and I awakened early this Thanksgiving morning, donned our running clothes and bib numbers, met up with D's brother and his wife (she's pregnant and was our moral support), and drove 20 miles to the site of our Turkey Trot 5K. It was chilly--about 45 degrees--but clear and the sun was just flashing through the trees. We lined up on the 100 yard-long starting line with the other 1000 or so runners. When 8:00 a.m. came, we were off. I've had much frustration with my mental state during my recent training. Namely, getting myself on the treadmill and, once there, keeping myself running beyond 2 miles. I've done it, but not willingly. So this race was a little tough for me. Add to that the surprise of the course--it was trail running with LOTS of hills . . . up and down, up and down, way up, way down. (None of this was mentioned in the vague "information" flier.) This was definitely the most challenging course I've run as far as terrain goes. Going into it, I really hoped to beat my 5K PR of 26:33, but early on I started to have my doubts about that possibility. I didn't enjoy most of the race. I felt exhausted about 50 yards into it and wanted to stop at mile 1 and mile 2. But I kept going as hard as I could and came in at 25:45, so I felt great about that. D and his bro were ahead of me and came in a couple of minutes prior to my finish, so their run was a good one too. I am so thankful for a healthy body and the ability to push it physically. And now, for some turkey! Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Here I am, lovin' it (ha ha):
D [hubby] and I awakened early this Thanksgiving morning, donned our running clothes and bib numbers, met up with D's brother and his wife (she's pregnant and was our moral support), and drove 20 miles to the site of our Turkey Trot 5K. It was chilly--about 45 degrees--but clear and the sun was just flashing through the trees. We lined up on the 100 yard-long starting line with the other 1000 or so runners. When 8:00 a.m. came, we were off. I've had much frustration with my mental state during my recent training. Namely, getting myself on the treadmill and, once there, keeping myself running beyond 2 miles. I've done it, but not willingly. So this race was a little tough for me. Add to that the surprise of the course--it was trail running with LOTS of hills . . . up and down, up and down, way up, way down. (None of this was mentioned in the vague "information" flier.) This was definitely the most challenging course I've run as far as terrain goes. Going into it, I really hoped to beat my 5K PR of 26:33, but early on I started to have my doubts about that possibility. I didn't enjoy most of the race. I felt exhausted about 50 yards into it and wanted to stop at mile 1 and mile 2. But I kept going as hard as I could and came in at 25:45, so I felt great about that. D and his bro were ahead of me and came in a couple of minutes prior to my finish, so their run was a good one too. I am so thankful for a healthy body and the ability to push it physically. And now, for some turkey! Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Here I am, lovin' it (ha ha):
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Lessons learned in a 15K
Yesterday I ran in a 15k race in Southern Arizona. I have always been a runner but a short distance runner. I am new to the long distance running thing. So I thought I would run the 15K yesterday in preparation for the half-marathon I am doing in February. It's intersting how many things I learned during this race.
1. The underwear I have does not work for long distance running (any suggestions?)
2. Going to bed at midnight and being up throughout the night with the baby without your husband there is not a good idea!
3. Getting up 45 minutes before you are supposed to register is not a good idea. I had to rush to get ready, rush to get the baby ready, rush to get there to get registered, and then the race started. I was mentally not ready nor was I warmed up.
4. Don't eat unhealthy food the day before the race.
I was definitely regretting these choices during the first 3 miles of the race. I was dead and really felt like I wanted to stop. But I pushed through it and after the 3rd mile I felt a lot better and ended up finishing under my goal time. But no doubt, I would have done much better during those frist 3 miles had I made some better choices the day before.
It was exciting though to finish my first "long distance" race!
1. The underwear I have does not work for long distance running (any suggestions?)
2. Going to bed at midnight and being up throughout the night with the baby without your husband there is not a good idea!
3. Getting up 45 minutes before you are supposed to register is not a good idea. I had to rush to get ready, rush to get the baby ready, rush to get there to get registered, and then the race started. I was mentally not ready nor was I warmed up.
4. Don't eat unhealthy food the day before the race.
I was definitely regretting these choices during the first 3 miles of the race. I was dead and really felt like I wanted to stop. But I pushed through it and after the 3rd mile I felt a lot better and ended up finishing under my goal time. But no doubt, I would have done much better during those frist 3 miles had I made some better choices the day before.
It was exciting though to finish my first "long distance" race!
Thursday, November 08, 2007
The Mommies are Hatching a Plan!
Chelle's last post has got a lot of us thinking about our plans for our next big race. I think I'm safe to say everyone is really excited about the idea of training "virtually" together and getting together in Spring '08 to meet and run a race together. This is very exciting!
So far the two options that have been thrown out are the Salt Lake Marathon and the Ogden Marathon. What works for you? Let's take a vote! Take your time to look at the race's web sites for yourself and see what you think. (You can find the links on the sidebar.) Once you think you have a preference, cast your vote. Both marathons have 1/2 marathons associated with them on the same day. They also have 5Ks. I think this makes both of these marathons great candidates for our "team debut" because they have something for everyone - no matter your comfort level or ability. Of course we understand if this isn't the right time for you and your family to be training for or running a marathon. But we want everyone to know - YOU ARE INVITED whether you are an official "contributor" to this site or not.
Salt Lake Marathon: Saturday, April 9
Ogden Marathon: Saturday, May 19
I know that Ogden is a Boston qualifying marathon, but I am unsure about SL. Does anyone know? See the websites for more details about the courses, amenities, pricing, etc.
You also may have noticed some changes to the site on the sidebar. If you are a contributor please send a brief bio to Sarah (Suzie Petunia) so it can be added to the site. You can also send a photo if you would like that included. Send them to suziepetunia at gmail dot com. Thanks to those of you who have already sent them. I'll have them all up ASAP.
I am very excited about these tentative plans to run together in the Spring. What a joy and an honor it will be to train together and to finally all meet. I hope all of you can join us!
So far the two options that have been thrown out are the Salt Lake Marathon and the Ogden Marathon. What works for you? Let's take a vote! Take your time to look at the race's web sites for yourself and see what you think. (You can find the links on the sidebar.) Once you think you have a preference, cast your vote. Both marathons have 1/2 marathons associated with them on the same day. They also have 5Ks. I think this makes both of these marathons great candidates for our "team debut" because they have something for everyone - no matter your comfort level or ability. Of course we understand if this isn't the right time for you and your family to be training for or running a marathon. But we want everyone to know - YOU ARE INVITED whether you are an official "contributor" to this site or not.
Salt Lake Marathon: Saturday, April 9
Ogden Marathon: Saturday, May 19
I know that Ogden is a Boston qualifying marathon, but I am unsure about SL. Does anyone know? See the websites for more details about the courses, amenities, pricing, etc.
You also may have noticed some changes to the site on the sidebar. If you are a contributor please send a brief bio to Sarah (Suzie Petunia) so it can be added to the site. You can also send a photo if you would like that included. Send them to suziepetunia at gmail dot com. Thanks to those of you who have already sent them. I'll have them all up ASAP.
I am very excited about these tentative plans to run together in the Spring. What a joy and an honor it will be to train together and to finally all meet. I hope all of you can join us!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Hood to Coast - the details you are waiting for...
You can find a more detailed description of the legs I ran on my personal blog. But, I thought you would be the only crowd who would truly appreciate the details I am eager to share: my splits!
leg 6: 7.4 miles - 1 hour 51 seconds - 8:09 minute/mile
leg 18: 4.1 miles - 34 minutes 35 seconds - 8:24 minute/mile
leg 30: 5.3 miles - 42 minutes 49 seconds - 8:06 minute/mile
I am so thrilled with this because last year my splits looked something like this:
first run - 7:40 minute/mile
second run - 8:40 minute/mile
third run - 9:40 minute/mile
What a difference! I have really surprised myself. It makes me wonder what goals I could really accomplish if I wasn't so scared of failing... and pain! It makes me want to train harder!
P.S. I have some photos, but they are on my hubby's camera which he has to upload at work. There is an especially choice picture of male runner in a silver metallic thong: his running outfit! Can you just imagine the chaffing??
leg 6: 7.4 miles - 1 hour 51 seconds - 8:09 minute/mile
leg 18: 4.1 miles - 34 minutes 35 seconds - 8:24 minute/mile
leg 30: 5.3 miles - 42 minutes 49 seconds - 8:06 minute/mile
I am so thrilled with this because last year my splits looked something like this:
first run - 7:40 minute/mile
second run - 8:40 minute/mile
third run - 9:40 minute/mile
What a difference! I have really surprised myself. It makes me wonder what goals I could really accomplish if I wasn't so scared of failing... and pain! It makes me want to train harder!
P.S. I have some photos, but they are on my hubby's camera which he has to upload at work. There is an especially choice picture of male runner in a silver metallic thong: his running outfit! Can you just imagine the chaffing??
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Provo Half: The Run Down
I am super-duper tired and about to hop into bed, but I thought I would give a quick update since we'll be driving ALL DAY LONG in the car tomorrow. We are finally heading home after 3 weeks of vacation. A real high light of the entire trip has been meeting Chelle face-to-face. What a great woman, mom, runner and friend! I just know we would be good friends if we didn't live so far apart. For now we'll just have to be good blogging friends - and what a blessing that is! I feel so lucky for all of you who share this love of running with me. The end result of all of the hours of training is more often about the friendships I have made, and not just about the finish line.
Last night was terrible: I felt nervous and anxious about the race. I didn't get into bed early enough. And then RLS kicked in and it made me so angry! Why now?! I took my medicine for it and it helped me sleep, but it also made me very groggy when I woke up. I felt like I was in a foggy haze up until the starting line. I yawned the entire bus ride up to the starting line with Chelle and her fun brother. But it is amazing how the race started, my legs started moving in that familiar rhythm, my heart started pumping, and there I was in race mode. I guess sleepiness fleas in the presence of all that adrenaline.
We should have started closer to the front of the pack. We spent the first 3 or 4 miles zig-zagging, trying to pass the gazillion runners that were slower than us. I felt pretty good and was happy to be able to keep up with Chelle. The little pain I've been experiencing down the outside of my left thigh was there. It usually disappears this far into a run, but it seemed to intensify a bit. By the end of the race the pain was centrally located in my hip up under my rear end - definitely a nerve thing going on there. It wasn't very painful during the race - just annoying. I can still feel it tonight, though, and I am resolved to see a chiropractor when I get back home. Maybe an accupuncturist? :)
Chelle and bro slowed for a photo-op with their dad around mile 6 (very cute!) and I pulled ahead just a bit. This is the 2-mile stretch of the race that suddenly turns uphill and then down in an out-and-back loop. Just after finishing the loop Chelle and bro zipped past me. I was very impressed with their energy level - they made it look so easy! I knew Chelle was going for a PR and I might not be able to keep up. I'm not quite back to the shape I was in pre-Baby Alice! They looked great! I never caught up with them, but I felt good about the pace I was able to maintain.
For the next few miles I focused on not letting my pace slow "by accident" as it sometimes does. It is hard to see the numbers on my Nike+Ipod gadget when I'm in the middle of such a long run. But the "little voice in my head" (Nike+ lady) that tells me my miles kept talking to me at each mile mark, even if the physical mile marker wasn't there. Chelle, was it just me, or were they missing a few? It got a little confusing - I didn't know how far I actually had left to go towards the end because my Nike+ isn't always completely accurate, and they had changed the finish area from the last time I ran this race: unfamiliar territory! I thought I had 3/4 of a mile to go when I came around a curve and saw the finish line about 50 yards ahead! I probably had too big of a burst of speed than I should have had at the end. That is what you get for not using a GPS watch! (Chelle, I'm curious what distance your bro's watch measured for the length of the course.)
I was tired and spent by the end and happy (as always) to be crossing the finish line. All of my family in the area was supposed to be there, but they were about 2 minutes too late to see me finish. Isn't that too bad? I felt worse for them for making the effort than for myself. I love the support of my family when I finish a race. They are so proud of me and they tell me so. I was especially grateful to my brother and his wife for taking care of my 4 kids in addition to their 3 this morning... AND getting them all to the race site in one minivan! That could not have been easy. Such love and support- I am so grateful for my family. They have all been so wonderfully kind and generous with us as we've spent time here in Utah with them in their homes. I can't say enough...
Did I even mention my time? Here I am rambling... I finished in 1:51 according to my Nike+. That is an 8:28 pace, which I am competely thrilled with! I haven't been training much (if at all) at that pace, so that was a pleasant surprise. Thank you, Chelle, for pacing me for so much of the race. I would not have gotten off to a quick start without you and your brother.
After finally finding our pre-race gear in the mountain of white bags at the finish I went back to my brother's house. I was so tired that I turned on the wrong street! Scary, huh? When I finally got home I crashed on the living room floor and I don't know how long I slept while 6 noisy kids played "Hungry Hippos". The rest of the day was wonderful. Taylor flew into town and we spent the afternoon with our kids riding the ski lift at Sundance. Oh, so beautiful! Now I'm off to slumber and hopefully not dream of racing. I just want to relax and enjoy this post-race moment. Thank you to everyone who was with me in body or spirit today.
Last night was terrible: I felt nervous and anxious about the race. I didn't get into bed early enough. And then RLS kicked in and it made me so angry! Why now?! I took my medicine for it and it helped me sleep, but it also made me very groggy when I woke up. I felt like I was in a foggy haze up until the starting line. I yawned the entire bus ride up to the starting line with Chelle and her fun brother. But it is amazing how the race started, my legs started moving in that familiar rhythm, my heart started pumping, and there I was in race mode. I guess sleepiness fleas in the presence of all that adrenaline.
We should have started closer to the front of the pack. We spent the first 3 or 4 miles zig-zagging, trying to pass the gazillion runners that were slower than us. I felt pretty good and was happy to be able to keep up with Chelle. The little pain I've been experiencing down the outside of my left thigh was there. It usually disappears this far into a run, but it seemed to intensify a bit. By the end of the race the pain was centrally located in my hip up under my rear end - definitely a nerve thing going on there. It wasn't very painful during the race - just annoying. I can still feel it tonight, though, and I am resolved to see a chiropractor when I get back home. Maybe an accupuncturist? :)
Chelle and bro slowed for a photo-op with their dad around mile 6 (very cute!) and I pulled ahead just a bit. This is the 2-mile stretch of the race that suddenly turns uphill and then down in an out-and-back loop. Just after finishing the loop Chelle and bro zipped past me. I was very impressed with their energy level - they made it look so easy! I knew Chelle was going for a PR and I might not be able to keep up. I'm not quite back to the shape I was in pre-Baby Alice! They looked great! I never caught up with them, but I felt good about the pace I was able to maintain.
For the next few miles I focused on not letting my pace slow "by accident" as it sometimes does. It is hard to see the numbers on my Nike+Ipod gadget when I'm in the middle of such a long run. But the "little voice in my head" (Nike+ lady) that tells me my miles kept talking to me at each mile mark, even if the physical mile marker wasn't there. Chelle, was it just me, or were they missing a few? It got a little confusing - I didn't know how far I actually had left to go towards the end because my Nike+ isn't always completely accurate, and they had changed the finish area from the last time I ran this race: unfamiliar territory! I thought I had 3/4 of a mile to go when I came around a curve and saw the finish line about 50 yards ahead! I probably had too big of a burst of speed than I should have had at the end. That is what you get for not using a GPS watch! (Chelle, I'm curious what distance your bro's watch measured for the length of the course.)
I was tired and spent by the end and happy (as always) to be crossing the finish line. All of my family in the area was supposed to be there, but they were about 2 minutes too late to see me finish. Isn't that too bad? I felt worse for them for making the effort than for myself. I love the support of my family when I finish a race. They are so proud of me and they tell me so. I was especially grateful to my brother and his wife for taking care of my 4 kids in addition to their 3 this morning... AND getting them all to the race site in one minivan! That could not have been easy. Such love and support- I am so grateful for my family. They have all been so wonderfully kind and generous with us as we've spent time here in Utah with them in their homes. I can't say enough...
Did I even mention my time? Here I am rambling... I finished in 1:51 according to my Nike+. That is an 8:28 pace, which I am competely thrilled with! I haven't been training much (if at all) at that pace, so that was a pleasant surprise. Thank you, Chelle, for pacing me for so much of the race. I would not have gotten off to a quick start without you and your brother.
After finally finding our pre-race gear in the mountain of white bags at the finish I went back to my brother's house. I was so tired that I turned on the wrong street! Scary, huh? When I finally got home I crashed on the living room floor and I don't know how long I slept while 6 noisy kids played "Hungry Hippos". The rest of the day was wonderful. Taylor flew into town and we spent the afternoon with our kids riding the ski lift at Sundance. Oh, so beautiful! Now I'm off to slumber and hopefully not dream of racing. I just want to relax and enjoy this post-race moment. Thank you to everyone who was with me in body or spirit today.
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