Race Recap: Glass City Half Marathon (Late for the PR Party)

I have really been avoiding writing up this recap.  If the title doesn’t give it away, Glass City didn’t quite go as planned.  I got my invitation to the PR Party and then apparently decided to spit on it, put it in a giant puddle, and stomp on it with my Asics.  Blargh.  My fate was sealed even before the race began.  Mental attitude is truly half the battle, and mine was down the shitter.  However, I choose to use every race as a learning experience.  And this race is no exception.  With every negative, there is in turn a positive lurking.

Negatives:
–Battling major head cold that caused coughing spells every half mile
–3 hours of sleep the night before race due to parental snoring and a bitch of a mattress
–1 bathroom to share amongst 3 adults running Glass City.  Needless to say, Eli didn’t make the magic happen prior to the race.  And if you don’t know what “the magic” means, think really hard.

–Battled stomach issues the entire race but all the port-o-john lines were too long to stop
–Due to said stomach issues, I was not able to take a single Shot Block or sip of water for fear that “the magic” would happen at an inopportune time
–Was seeing pretty black circles by the time I crossed the finish line.

Positives:
–I finished my SEVENTH half marathon…woo hoo!
–For all of my cramping stomach, cramping calf, and cramping hamstring…I didn’t, repeat DIDN’T give in to the urge to stop at a port-o-john or stop running.  I never walked.  This is honestly the first half I have not walked a step during.
–I only finished 1 minute behind my PR
–I got some pretty cool race swag
–I was able to maintain goal race pace through Mile 8 until the stomach issues really started
–I got to run through my alma mater school and city…and relive my college days
–I got to hang with one of my BFF’s from college

Photo Courtesy of Michael Mason Photo, Inc. 

And with that, I am done with my disappointment.  I am happy that I was able to gut check it (literally) through some pretty gnarly stomach cramps and finish in 1:53:48 (8:41/mile)
The Splits:
Mile 1–8:46 (very congested start as I didn’t line myself in the correct spot–my bad)
Mile 2–8:32 (started trying to make up lost time)
Mile 3–8:13 (really worried that my terrible math skills and lining up behind the 3:50 pacer instead of the 3:40 pacer was gonna ruin me–IT DID)
Mile 4–8:15
Mile 5–8:26

Mile 6–8:25
Mile 7–8:28
Mile 8–8:31
Mile 9–8:47 (where spontaneous combustion began)
Mile 10–8:50

Photo Courtesy of Michael Mason Photo, Inc

Mile 11–8:48
Mile 12–8:49
Mile 13–8:35 (tried to pick it up when i realized mathematically I was sucking)
Mile 0.3–8:17

Also discovered I suck at cutting tangents!  Technically I PR’d if you subtract the extra 0.2 miles I ran!! (Garmin read:  8:34/mile)

Pictures of my Parents (PS How cute are they?!  And how much do they love me to let me convince them to do a half marathon?!)

Momma M finished in 1:58:29 (3rd Place Age Group 55-59)

Daddy M finished in 2:28:10 which is pretty fast for race walking!

Longest Post Ever…Now onto getting motivated to crush some PR’s this season and use this race as the fuel for my desire to run.

HAPPY RUNNING!

Churchill’s Half Marathon

This past Sunday (3/18) I ran my 6th Half Marathon.  I somehow convinced my mom to let me death march pace her for what we were going to only call a “Long Run”.  No, I did not race this one.  Instead, I spent 2 hours of quality time with my Mom

Churchill’s Half is a staple in the NW Ohio running community.  What everyone failed to tell me, was that the course is boring as all butt wipes.  It really does make one giant loop around all of Monclova.  In a straightaway, turn about kind of fashion.  And had a severe lack of water stops.

Our goal was to keep as close to 9′s as possible.  This lasted for the first 8 miles.  And then Momma M started to get too hot and we had to slow it down.  Up to that point, however, she did fantastic!  We split apart at Mile 11.5 and I  pushed a bit to the finish.  Somehow I was still close to nearly placing in my age group even though Miles 9-11 averaged about a 9:25 pace.

Finish Time: Momma M: 2:02:06 (1st Place in her age group!), Eli: 2:00:11 (Probably 7th in my age group)…considering I paced with my mom, I was surprised I was so close to top 5.  The best part? My legs feel fine today! Hooray for family bonding!

Negatives: seriously.  water stops at miles 1,3,7,10, and 12 don’t cut it.  Especially when the race started at 10 when the temp was already 65.  every runner in my vicinity complained of this.  very little crowd support minus the sign that read: “You’re NOT Going to Win”.  very poor water distribution at the finish.

Positives: running with my mom, quick awards at the finish line, post-race cookies, wearing a new tank top, getting a little suntan, running 13.1 for the 6th time!

Also, I wore this outfit on a training run last week.  Mike made fun of me.  What gives?  This is totally a hot look for me!

Happy Running!  Especially running in the Global Warming Weather!

Proof I Do Spur of the Moment Racing

Non-Official Finish: 22:19 for 2.9 miles (7:39 pace)
+7 miles earlier in day at 8:24 pace
+running with a husband that was determined to not let erratic jogging strollers or asthmatic 8 year olds beat us
+winning Adidas headbands
+having your husband start running backwards to yell at you to run faster
+having a super nice 60+ year old man yell at you “honey you can’t let me beat you, run faster” and then pace you to the finish
=super fantastic awesomesauce kind of Leap Day 2012 

Ringing in 2012

So, it is now 2012.  Which means it will officially take me about a month before I can correctly date checks and not mess up my PT notes in the clinic.  But it also means a new year with new beginnings.  New resolutions.  New adventures.  New ways to be awesome.   I am fairly confident that I can succeed in all aspects of this. 

1st weekend of the New Year: Great Success.
Friday–Worked 5 hours.  Ran 2.5 miles on the Treadmill.  Hopped in my super sweet Elantra and drove to North Canton for my family’s annual holiday party.

I get all kinds of crazy eyed when at holiday parties. This one occurred with one of my favorite cousins: Heidey

Participated in Feats of Strength:2011 Edition.  Event: Push-ups.  A great test of my poor upper body strength and ability to perform under pressure in a tacky holiday sweater.  I am pretty sure this video proves that I could have cracked walnuts with how hard I was squeezing my cheeks.  And I am sure you know which cheeks I mean.

Push-up Challenge

Saturday: Woke up.  Ran 3 miles with Big K (my mom) and pushed her to run her last 8:15 training mile of 2011.  She totally hated me but also loved me at the same time, but was so short of breath she couldn’t vocalize either.  Drove to Toledo.  Got sassified for NYE 2011.

My sparkly new shoes...I love Charming Charlie!

GQ Style for Hubs for 2012

Attempting to rock: I am Hot for 2012

Final tally for the night:
1–Margarita
5–Awesome friends
1–Leopard Print Thong that no one will forget
2–Completely ugly people attempting to “pet” each other clothes on in the bar
2–Chimichangas that my stomach thoroughly enjoyed both then and the next day
1–New Year!!

Sunday:  Ran 4 miles (quickly might I add) in the early morning Toledo rain.  Chimichanga attempted to win.  I didn’t let it.  Drove back to Sandtown.  Watched the Browns.  Ate some pizza.  Life is good.

Happy Running!