8 Mile Epiphany

I set out on my long run this morning with a new attitude.  Thanks to a recent post by my friend Run Far Girl, I decided to follow her advice to "Run the run you're in".  While I've had success in my recent training cycle, I'm starting to feel burnt out.  Not really how you want to feel just before you begin to train for a marathon.

I let myself have a no workout week.  I still went to my clubs track workout since I value the interaction with other runners just as much as I do the actual workouts.  It wasn't my best workout, but I was still out there.

Today I decided to do 8 miles.  Focusing on the run I was in and the purpose of the long run, I set my pace and stayed comfortable and relaxed the whole time.  I didn't push the pace.  I didn't use any fuel.  I just went out and enjoyed the run.  Who knew?

Running Races Vs. Racing

Now that I have had 24 hours to reflect on yesterdays race, I have some thoughts to share on what was different about the last 2 races.

I have run 6 half marathons and probably a dozen other races.  As I pondered what I did differently to have the success I had yesterday, it dawned on me.

I have run many races...  I have not RACED them.

I have always trained to the bare minimum.  I was running 5K's when that was about the max distance of my training runs.  I ran half marathons only hitting 10 miles once, two weeks before the race.  Yes, I finished the races.  But, I held back my pace knowing I needed to be conservative because the distance was more than I was trained for.

I ran a half marathon at the end of February, maintained a decent long run base and ran a half in April.  After that disaster, I again maintained my long run before my 3rd half in May.  I knew I was trained to run the distance, so the focus shifted to a pacing strategy.  Aside from the leg cramp which cost me time, my pacing was spot on.  Even with that unplanned slow down, I was able to PR.

Going into yesterday's race, I was more than trained to run 3.1 miles.  So again, my focus was on pace.  I have been going to track workouts with my local running club for about a month, so I've had a chance to try out running at a faster pace for short distances and was able to get a better understanding of what pace I could reasonably hold.

I discovered something about myself yesterday:

I love racing!

Sure, I've known that I enjoy having fun at races, seeing friends, having a beer and all the post race run.  But, I mean, actually racing.  Running faster than I did last time.  Running to beat the clock.

I may cross the finish first, but do plan to win my races.

Redhook 5K

Redhook is one of those races that I use to really measure my progress as a runner.

The first time I ran it, it was just weeks after my first ever 5K.  Today was my third time on the course.  I've come to know the curves and elevation well.  It's not flat, but not hilly.  It's not scenic.   In other words, it's a perfect 5K course.  Get in, get out as fast as you can.  It's the food and beer at the after party that everyone goes for.

My times for my first 2 attempts were:  35:39 and 32:04

This morning was a bit humid, but cloudy.  Temps were in the mid-50's.  Perfect for running.

I love the race but the one thing they could do better is the start:  With 2000 runners, a wave start would be much appreciated.  It's a 2 lane road, but that first mile is crowded and dangerous.

I started out and I thought I was probably going faster than I should but given the crowds, I just went with it hoping it would break open so I could slow down.

Mile 1 ticked by at 9:13.  Yikes.  It started to open up, so I tried to relax into a rhythm and hold back a little.  Mile 2 ticked by at 9:19.  So much for slowing down.

I went into this race trying for a sub-30.  I knew I needed to keep my average pace below 9:40, and at Mile 2 I felt confident that even if I slowed down a little I could still reach my goal.  The last mile has 2 small hills but I was able to hold my pace.  On the last hill, you start to hear the finish line announcements.  Mile 3 ticked by at 9:16.

I made the final turn and headed to the finish.  Seeing that finish line clock ticking away, I put on a little push.

I crossed the line in 29:05.  Not only did I break 30 minutes, but I came damn close to breaking 29!

New 5K PR!

Accidental PR

I haven't run much since last weekend's half other than some speedwork on Wednesday night with my local running club.

I felt like I wanted to get a few miles in to see how my legs had recovered and make sure I was loose for tomorrow's 5K race.

My daughter had a t-ball game at a field 3 miles from our house.  So, I had my hubby drive the girls and I decided to just run and meet them there.  I intended for this to be an easy, relaxed run.  I turned my Garmin on so I would have a record of my time, but didn't look at it AT ALL until the end of the run.  It was raining the first half of the run and I just went by how I felt.

Whoops!  When I got to the end and checked my watch...  I averaged a 9:52 pace.  If I had run another .1 mile,  it would have certainly been a new 5K PR for me.  ::sigh::

I have yet to get a sub-30 in a 5K and I have been hoping that this would be my weekend.  I was just hoping it was going to be in tomorrow's race, not today's easy run.   I'm crossing my fingers that my legs will feel just as fresh tomorrow and that I can push the pace just a bit more.

Stay tuned....

The Surprise PR

So...  as I was preparing my race times to submit to my local running clubs Grand Prix guru, I realized that I was wrong about my current PR.

Somehow, in my mind, I had convinced myself that my time was 2:39:59.  In fact, it was 2:40:59.

Which means:

My Funky Kingston time WAS a PR!!    Yay!!!

Funky Kingston Half Marathon

After the disaster that was my previous race, I decided I needed to enter a new half and hopefully have a better time to submit for the Disney Marathon.

Enter:  Funky Kingston

This was the first year of the race and I knew very little about the course except what was posted on the website.  Medium hills through mile 7 and then a downill/flat course from mile 8.  This was the course elevation chart:

After the NY disaster, I did a 10 mile run the weekend after and a couple track workouts.  Other than that, just some short, easy runs. 

I arrived at the race feeling good.  I hadn't gotten a great nights sleep, but for the first time, I had a time goal AND a race plan to go with it.  Based on what I thought the course would be like, I was going to attempt a negative split race.  I thought if I ran the early hills a little conservatively, I could use the downhill from Mile 8 on to have a strong finish.

My goals were:

A- 2:30

B- 2:35

C- New PR (Current PR: 2:39:59)

So, I arrived at the race and picked up my bib.  Here's where things started to get rocky.  The volunteer handed me my bib and I looked at it in horror...  There was NO CHIP!  The race was not chip timed-- which meant I couldn't submit it for the marathon.  D'oh!  So, after a few minutes of being upset and panicking, I decided that since there wasn't anything I could do about it, I would just let it go and run the best race I could.

I met up with a friend who I had convinced to run the race as her first half marathon.  We started together and I promised her I would meet her at the finish. 

My first mile is always a bit faster than it should be--  I just can't help it.  I actually did a better job of keeping my pace down than I ever have, so I was happy.  It was a hilly course:  they were manageable, but there were lots of them.

My splits looked like:

So, despite the hills, I felt strong deep into the race.  At mile 10, I knew the 2:35 was within reach...but wait?  Where was the big downhill?  Did I miss it?  All I saw was hill after hill after hill after blasted hill.  Here's where I realized that my race strategy was not going to pan out.  Yes, I had run the earlier miles more conservatively than I could have.  But, without the easy finish, I needed to work harder for it.  I knew it would be close.  Then:

Somewhere in Mile 11, I felt it.  My right calf began to gradually tighten.  I stopped to stretch, started to run and right back to tight.  As long as I walked, I could hold the cramp at bay.  Every time I tried to run, the cramp would come back.  I finally got to the Mile 13 marker and started to run again.  I knew I was almost done and that my A and B goals had slipped away.  There was still a chance for a PR.

I could feel my calf tightening with each step, but I held out.  I made the final turn and headed to the finish line.  Just steps before the finish, my entire calf seized up in an excruciating way.  I took those steps and then doubled over in pain.  My entire calf felt like a brick and I couldn't put any weight on it.  Someone helped me hop to the med tent where they made me eat a banana and gently stretched out my leg.  I have never experienced leg cramping like that before.  I did not get my PR.  My Garmin time:  2:40:06.  7 seconds off.

My overall impression of the race:

For a new race, there was a good turnout:  Around 300 people.  However, it was very small compared to the races I am used to running. 

I certainly would have appreciated it being a chip timed race.  Maybe next year.

Port-o-potties:  Um, there were only a handful, literally.  I know the race was relatively small, but still.  The lines were quite long, even minutes before the race.  This was compounded by the fact that there were NO port-o-potties on the course.  Thankfully, I've never had to stop during a race, but plenty of people do so hopefully they will address that as the race grows.

Course:  Yes, it was hilly.  But, it was also a very relaxed course.  Despite it being a sunny day, there was plenty of shade.  There were a few people out on the course cheering, but overall a very quiet solo run.  Most of the course was open to traffic, but with the exception of a few sections early in the race-- there were cones blocking off the side for runners and very few cars riding around.  The water stations were sufficient, but there could have been more course monitoring--  had there been a medical emergency, it could have been quite a while before someone was found.

Even though I did not achieve any of my time goals for the day, I feel so proud of what I *did* do today.  I finished a race.  I ran my race, my pace and stuck to my plan.  I didn't let the hills, the lack of chip, lack of sleep or any other external factors shake my confidence.  And, for the first time--  I didn't feel nauseous AT ALL after the race.   This is huge for me.  I finished this race knowing that I had done by best and learned a lot about myself as a runner.  I'll take that over a shiny new PR...  at least for today.

Oh, and in case you are wondering...   My friend finished the race looking strong.  It was wonderful to get to cheer her across the finish!