Laugh and a Half Marathon - 1:43:33 - June 2014 - PR

Remember when I said I had NO idea what to expect out of this race?  And I wasn't feeling confident AT ALL.  You know how sometimes when you just relax, move any expectations, and just get out there, things end up working out.  I think back to last year how badly I wanted to PR this race, and how angry and frustrated I was when I didn't.  I think about this Saturday and how incredibly happy I felt because I was relaxed the entire time.  I had no pressure on myself, no high expectations, nothing.  Just get out there and run a race, and that was what I did!

Waking up in your own bed in your town for a race is the best ever.  I look forward to this race every year because the community support is wonderful, and it's just so easy to get up, run, and go home!  I got up around 5:15 to start waking myself up and stretching.  I had a MASSIVE bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios and a few bites of a Clif bar.  (I've been cereal-free all during and since my 24-Day Challenge, so this was a huge treat!  Cheerios have always been my go-to race and long run breakfast!)

Standard Advocare procedure, took my O2 Gold about an hour before the race, and drank my Spark/Arginine Extreme combo on the way to the starting line.  We met at a friend's house and walked up to the starting line at the high school.

I decided I was feeling confident, so I lined up towards the front...

5K, 10K, and Half Marathon all started at once.  Last year it was kind of a cluster, but this year the start seemed much smoother.  They didn't have pace markers, but they made more of a point to tell people to line up by pace.  Last year I did some serious bobbing and weaving and passing...

My mom came down and stopped along the route to take pics.  I like to wave in all of my pics.  I knew I was relaxed when I was talking to people in the first mile, and even a few miles after.  Again, a nice thing about a hometown race, you know who you are running with!  It was fun to chat it up a little.  This guy joked with me after the race about passing him!

More smiles, more waves.

I normally look like death while running, here I look alive.  Thanks to a friend for taking this pic!  I don't remember much of what went through my head during this race.  I do remember telling myself this is going fast, enjoy it!  It's funny how when you run 3+ hours in marathon training, a half marathon seems to fly by!

Here are my splits.  I ran a fairly consistent race, and dominated the last three miles!  My last mile was my fastest, and I'm very proud of that!  I'm typically a positive splitter all the way!  I was wiped out at the finish, but I do question now if I could have pushed it a little harder.  The thing is, I ran how I ran, I enjoyed it and smiled, and oh hey, I PR'ed!

1:43:33 was my official time, and it was good enough for 11th female overall, and second in my age division.

Someone asked her if she just had a baby, and she said no.  Just for the record.

I would be lying through my teeth if I said in the back of my mind I wasn't HOPING for a PR in this race and to make the podium in the age bracket for the third year in a row (out of three).  I definitely thought about both of these things, and deep down inside probably would have been disappointed if I didn't get either, BUT on the flip side that wasn't my goal at the beginning of the race.  Even during the race, I didn't look at my overall time on my watch, I didn't look at the women ahead of me, I just ran. 

It's taken me three years of running to finally get where I am.  I've learned SO MUCH.  I've made mistakes.  I've had highs.  I've had lows.  I've been proud of myself, and I've been disappointed in myself.  I'm competitive by nature, but the thing about running is you are only in competition with YOU!  If you start the race bound and determined that you have to beat yourself, it's probably not going to happen.  If you start the race focused on each moment and each mile, and smile along the way, you'll likely find the greatest reward at the finish line.  Not every race will be a PR, that's why the ones that are are so sweet.  There will always be someone faster, always be one winner, but you've won every time you laced up your shoes when you run with a smile on your face.

Running Quiz

My running idol Janae @ The Hungry Runner Girl posted this a while back.  I stumbled across it again, and decided to have some fun!

1.  On average how many races do you run a year?
Well, last year I ran 7 races, this year I've ran 8 so far?  I didn't actually look, and I can't always count... so I guess my average would be 7.5!  Yeah, half a race.  I went there...

1st Race EVERRR

2.  Things you have to run with: 
My iPod nano, Nike Plus Sportwatch, Pro Compression, and depending on the distance and weather, my Nathan Shot Bottle with Powerade Zero.  I rarely run without music, sometimes it's refreshing to, but most of the time I need it.  It took me a LONG time to be able to convince myself I don't always need my shot bottle.  It was my baby blanket.  I always have to have my watch. ALWAYS.  I can't run naked.

 
3.  Where do your workouts come from?  A training plan, a coach, whatever you feel like doing that day or what your training partner is doing that day?
When I'm training for a race, a rough idea of a workout comes from a training plan.  Right now I'm doing whatever I feel like.  I don't have a training partner... and I don't have a coach, BUT I'm considering the online coach for next year!


4.  How many miles on average do you put on a pair of shoes?
300 has seemed to be max at this point.  My poor shins and feet just crumble after 300.

Wave Rider LOVE! The only shoes I run in

5.  Cell phone- do you bring it with you on your run or leave it at home?
I almost always leave it at home.  I've been in several situations where I've wanted or needed it, but I still haven't learned my lesson to bring it.  I hate arm bands, but I did pick up a nice little hand held phone carrier.  


6. What was your last running related injury or have you been an injury free runner?
What's an injury free runner?  My most recent was my hip flexor.  I've dealt with shin splints, and my swollen foot issue last year.  

7.  Is your current running goal about running a farther distance (adding more mileage) or getting faster or BOTH?!?
My CURRENT goal is speed.  I don't have any more races or anything major going on, and I'm really just watching precious outdoor time tick away (Nebraska winter right around the corner).  I've found the cooler temps right now have made speed effortless.  I feel much stronger and faster than I did at the beginning of the year.  Of course the long term goal will always be about the marathon.

8.  Speedwork—->  at the track, on the treadmill, on the roads or never do it?
Tready.  I can't seem to get myself down to a track, and roads are hard, I would probably end up tripping and falling.

9.  Stretching after a run:  hit the ground after a run and get stretching, stretch in the shower, stretch once you get to work/school, skip the stretching? 
IMMEDIATELY after!  I've learned my lesson!  After every run I grab some Powerade Zero, some chocolate milk, and hit the foam roller and stretch.  Every. single. run.  I used to think I could stretch in the shower and call it good.  And surprise, I got hurt.

10.  What was your reason(S) for starting to run?  
I used to do a mile here or there for cardio.  I don't remember why I signed up for that first 5K, but I can't imagine life had I not!

  

How to make your next race a PR

The weekend is the Market to Market Relay but Nebraska weather means the major race season in this area has passed. Unless you are packing up and racing somewhere awesome, you are probably done for the year, or done after M2M. 

So now what? You could sit and feast all day on candy corn M&Ms and look and old race pictures… 

Go on a total running cleanse and just veg out and watch soaps for a while… 

OR start planning ahead for your NEXT race. It’s never too early to check out the 2014 race calendar and start making plans and goals. Sometimes it’s hard to keep yourself motivated when there are no major events on the schedule in the near future. I’ve found that it’s actually refreshing, and has boosted my motivation. The ultimate goal is to go out there and beat yourself at your next race. (Not literally…) 

 


Tips for making your next race your best yet: 

* Have a goal. Whether it’s general, like simply get a better time than I’ve ever had, or more specific like a sub 2:00, sub 1:40… so forth. Your new personal best goal could be for a 5K or 10K as opposed to a half or full. I know I would like to bust out a new 5K PR! 


* Follow a guide. Some people hate training plans, or don’t want to use one. If it’s your first race at a set distance, I would seriously recommend following one. I don’t follow plans anymore for half marathons, but I follow a workout plan (tempo day, hills, easy, long, etc.) Make sure the training plan suits your GOAL. If you goal is just to finish at a set distance, stick to a beginner or novice plan. If you are working towards that PR, make sure your plan is incorporating workouts that will help you achieve this. 

* Run further than you have to. This worked for ME. It may not work for everyone. But I truly believe adding in long runs to half marathon training will be to your benefit on race day. Do you have to a 20 mile run for a half? Heck no! I would recommend adding at least one if not two longer runs (12-14 miles) along with your standard 9, 10, 11 mile long runs in half training. Take these slow and EASY. Do it just for endurance sake. 

* Do SPEED work. Ugh, really? Yessss. Make yourself uncomfortable. I find it easier to do true speed work on a treadmill. It’s easier to slack outside, and the tread, well if you slack you get chucked off the back. Just sayin’. 

* KEEP IT REAL… not every race will be a PR. (I still struggle with this!) Some things will be out of your control, such as weather, or maybe how you feel that day. My two best races of 2013 were in the early spring and later fall when it was actually not 98% humidity and cooler out. No magic secret to success there, just Mother Nature giving me a boost. Don’t get discouraged if you didn’t make your goal. Let that be fuel to keep trying! 

Running Wish List

After reading Janae’s post this morning about winning a Boston Marathon treadmill!... I got to thinking about what would be on my ultimate running bucket/wish list.  If money (or real life aka work…) was no object, what would I want most…

Dream treadmill – Woodway.  If the amazing Emz can run on one for 22+ hours, I think I could handle a long run or two on one!  A close second in the dream tread category would be the Boston treadmill.  How cool would that be.

 

Dream races – If I had all the $$ and time in the world to be gone from work, I would for sure do one of the runDisney races.  Probably the Tinkerbell half marathon!  
A Rock N Roll Series race is on my “real world” bucket list.  I hope to get one of these in within the next year or two.  I love country music, but I hear Nashville is on the hilly side?  

Gear – I shell out plenty of dollaz on my gear, but I would have an endless drawer of Pro Compression socks and sleeves and now their new arm sleeves! As Nebraska winter approaches, I will need to stock up on lots of cold weather gear to do as much outdoor running as possible.  I would have an endless supply of Nike Tempo shorts as well.  Some days I think I already do though…

Compex and 110% Play harder capris.  I am all about my recovery tools. These are just a little bit out of the price range I can justify, but they sure would rock!