National Half Marathon: Mission Accomplished

...1:38:42 :)

After spending the first three months of the year training for the National Marathon, focusing on lots of miles and fine-tuning my marathon pace, my confidence was a bit shaky going into this race. I had done a few tempo runs at a fine speed, done some treadmill speedwork, but I had no clue how my body would react to racing a half marathon. I put my goal time out there with my coaches, they were honest with their feedback, and we developed a race plan. Start at 7:50 pace and increase the speed every two miles. This would put me very close to sub 1:40, but would most likely give me a PR (1:44).

After a hellish bus trip to DC on Friday (Lincoln Tunnel closed = 6+ hour nightmare), my boy picked me up and we headed straight to the expo, had a good Italian dinner, and got ready for the 5am alarm. My anal tendencies got us a front row parking space at 5:50 for a 7am race start. We hung around the start for awhile and I lined up Corral 3. This put me across the about 1:15 after the official race start. I ate a peanut butter bagel early, a banana on the way, and then sipped 1 scoop of CarboPro (with grape flavor sugar-free mix mmm) as I waited for the start.

Long story short: First mile was really crowded and came on at 7:55. It felt painfully slow, but I was happy that I had followed coach's plan for the first mile. I picked up the pace as the crowd opened up a bit, looked at my Garmin, and was running sub-7. I felt great, debated for about a half second, and decided to just go for it. I ran slightly out of my comfort zone, worked the downhills, and the miles flew by. I felt like I blinked and was climbing the biggest hill of the course right around 10k. I started to feel the effort about Mile 11, but tried to tuck in behind some people I had been running around and get to the finish. I didn't have my cumulative time on my watch, but knew I had been running right around 7:30s and was very confident I was going to be sub-1:40.

Turned the final corner and saw that I was going to cross right at 1:40 clock time. Which put my official time at 1:38:42. I had held a consistent pace and HR and felt strong to the finish. My mile splits (range from 7:08 to 7:49) reveal the course was much more 'rolling' than I expected, but training in Central Park was perfect practice. I was overjoyed when I finished, and my boyfriend promptly told me I had way to much energy left and hadn't run the finish chute nearly fast enough :) That's my boy ha.

I really loved this race. I got to run on iconic DC roads and neighborhoods (under Dupont Circle, through Adams Morgan, straight down North Capitol with the Capitol building straight ahead) and I think the course was more than fair. I do have a few gripes (only mile marker/clock was at Mile 10, no warning of upcoming aid stations), but that may come from being spoiled at NYRR races.

Due to work this year, I don't have too many races on the schedule, so I really want to make each one count. I am so happy to have put this race together, trust my training and fitness, and really allowed myself to go for it. I think the mental lessons I learned racing last year have really come through in my races this year (be confident!!) and I can't wait for South Beach in two weeks !!

Good Morning :)

via

1:40 or bust.

Amazing. See you in 6 days, DC.

Ides of March

This is my current view. And was my view for 6 hours yesterday. But with 50% of the office leaving at lunch yesterday, and 70% out today (it's supposed to hit 70 here), I think I'm doing pretty good...


And yes, if you zoom in and squint and have really good eyesight, you just may see what I spend my days talking about. And it may make you blush. Be warned.

aka Liquid Crack

What a week can bring...

This past week has been a rollercoaster, to say the least. When I get quiet on the blog-front, it usually is bc something is going on that I don't want to admit and putting it in writing makes it real. So....

Last Sunday, during a planned 3 hour long run, at about 60min, I started having sharp pains in the side of my foot. I slowed down and took some walk breaks, but around 2 hours, I decided there was no reason to be a hero and slowly walked home. It took 24 more hours for me to admit something was wrong and I needed to get it looked at.

Tuesday - PT visit, major massage and taping job later, I am sent to 1) buy narrow running shoes and, 2) get an xray of my foot.

X-ray is all clear, but to be safe, podiatrist send me for MRI. Says he will text me the results later that night. When I get a phone call at 9pm and not a text, my heart sinks. Good News first: No stress fracture. Bad News: Partially torn Peroneal Tendon. Pain in foot a result of the inflammation. Prescription: Can treat symptomatically (ice ice ice), need to be honest with myself about the pain, OK to run if feeling good.

Wednesday - Officially change my registration from the full marathon to the half marathon on March 26th. Trying to be smart about taking the pressure off. Feeling good about my decision, excited to see what I can do over 13.1 miles.

Fly to Florida for 6 days of triathlon camp. Great timing.

Thursday - 27 mile bike, 45 minute swim.

Friday - 45 minute, 5.3 mile run, (pain was OK), 45 minute swim. Open water swim.

Saturday - Clermont Race. Crap swim, great bike, painful yet speedy run. Very happy with the result - 2/AG to my speedy roommate, 8th overall. 45 minute swim, transition practice with team (I will do a flying mount/dismount at South Beach!).

Sunday - 60 minute swim, 27 mile bike, 1 hour yoga. Have a run in with a water cooler top, give myself a black eye.

Monday - Longest.Ride.Ever. 105 miles. 6 hours. Felt stronger at the finish. Saddle agreed with me. Ecstatic.

Tuesday - 45 minute swim, 60 minute run. 9:30 pace. NO PAIN.

So now I'm back in cold and windy NYC, excited to continue my momentum, annoyed with myself for leaving my bike shoes in Florida with the team, and trying to listen to my foot and not change my registration back to the full marathon.