Races

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My Half Marathon Nerves

I am running in my 5th Half Marathon this weekend and I am VERY NERVOUS.  Here’s why:

1st Half in Naples, Florida

My 1st Half was 1-16-11 (my wedding anniversary).  My longest race to that point was a 5k.  I trained well.  I was healthy.  I was so excited.  My hubby was waiting at the finish line.  My goal was to cross standing up and finish under 2:45 so I could get a medal. I DID in 2:28.

My 2nd Half in Lake George, NY

My 2nd Half was 4-23-11. Now I had already run a half marathon so I knew that I could. I trained well & was healthy.  My goal was to run faster but not too much since I knew that it was a hilly course. It was freezing and raining hard the whole 13.1 miles (& I didn’t wear my Garmin) so I was shocked that I was faster (2:22) and won an award for 2nd in my AG.

 

My 3rd Half in Schroon Lake, NY

 

My 3rd Half was 9-25-11.  Unfortunately I got hurt in June and did not run most of the summer.  My goal was no goal – Just finish it in under 5 hours and not re-injure my Achilles. The course was tough but I was able to run the lst half & then I walked most of the 2nd half to finish in 2:44.

my 4th Half Marathon in Rhinebeck, NY

My 4th Half was 10-23-11.  I signed up for it on a whim and planned to use it as a week 10 of 12 training run. It was scenic and a race was just the motivation I needed for a good last long run.  Unfortunately, I was not prepared physically for the HILLS and although I ran a very good first half of the race, I walked a lot during the last few hills and finished around 2:31.  At least I was faster than my 3rd half and I did not get injured by not pushing myself on the hills.

The Santa Clarita Half this weekend is my 5th Half.  I am running with my best friend’s sister (who runs marathons.)  Of course, I want to do well.  My nagging achilles has prevented me from training well.  My running has been very cautious for fear of re-injury.  The speed has not been there and the long runs have been mixed with walking.  These half marathons have been getting harder  NOT easier!!

Hopefully I will do OK. Maybe it’ll be flat…

I’m nervous!

Happy Running!  Heading to LA!

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Welcome November!

Wow, October flew by!  But I am happy to say that I ran my most miles ever!!! (Previously it was 95 in Dec 2010) I have also surpassed my total miles for 2010 with 2 months left to go!!!

Here were my October Goals:

  • Continue to run pain-free :) – YUP!!
  • Continue tennis & yoga once a week – YUP!!
  • Run 3-4 times a week – YUP!!
  • Join a gym & start to cross-train ??? NOPE. Not yet!
  • Increase weekly mileage by adding long runs to prepare for Half Marathon #4 – YUP! Actually ran it and now it is HM #5
  • Run a 5k or 10K or both – YUP! A 5K on 10-1-11

    10-1-11

10-10-11


10-16-11


10-22-11

10-23-11

10-30-11

 


GOALS

  1. Hope to continue to run pain-free
  2. Continue tennis & yoga once a week
  3. Run 3-4 times a week
  4. Survive Half Marathon #5
  5. Run a 5k  (& finish under 30 min.)
  6. Join a gym & start cross-train

Happy Running!

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Last Long Run

It’s funny to say that I am officially in Taper mode.

I started training on August 15.  In those 12 weeks, I have run 2 half marathons.  I also have had long runs of  10, 10.5, 12, 13. That’s six 2 digit runs!!!

On the surface, it appears that I am so much better prepared for this half marathon than my first two. (1-16-11 & 4-23-11)

Not so!!! 

It’s deceiving because  all of the long training runs this time have been mixed with walking.  All except the last half marathon (10-23-11) have paces over 12 min/mile. 

I feel that because of my injury, I have been tapering during all of the training runs. 

I am pain-free now so I am okay with that.  Running slowing is much better than not running at all.  (I will repeat this to myself often.)

So today was my last long run.

We had some snow on Thursday and some yesterday.  Yes, it’s still October.  Those are the joys of living in the Northeast.It was unseasonably cool today (in the 30’s) but at least it was not snowing or raining!!!

4" on the ground this morning

So I headed into town to do at least 8 miles.  However, the sidewalks were still snow-covered and slippery so I decided to go some place new.

I heard that the Corning Trail was an awesome place to run – flat & scenic.  I usually do not feel like doing extra driving but today I had the time.

I parked at Riverside Park and headed toward Troy.  The whole way you had a view of the Hudson River.

It was chilly but I definitely was overdressed.  I started with a hat & gloves & jacket.

The trail was indeed flat. The sun came out and melted the snow on the trail.

It was neat to see snow on the ground & leaves still on the trees.

I turned around at the 4 1/4 mile mark and little by little took off my hat, gloves, & tied the jacket around my waist.

I haven’t reached a verdict about the new shoes – yes, they have more support & the bottoms of my feet don’t ache but they are heavier & it feels like running in cement boots (unless I was just tired & hungry).

warm enough for boating

When I got back, the weather was so nice & the scenery so beautiful that I continued in the other direction.

Done!!

I wound up doing 9.5 miles (though there was walking at the end & lots of photo stops). I’m definitely going to add the Corning Trail to my list of running routes.

I’m not sure how much or if any running I’ll get done this week.  Tennis 2x, yoga, nails, hair appt, flight to LA …NO TIME!!

Happy Running! Do I need to run this week?

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Eight Days Out

That’s means it’s time to stress out about the Weather and the Outfit:

I have no control about the weather.  I’m fine as long as it doesn’t rain.

Santa Clarita forecast

But do you see a trend??? California must know that an Upstate New York girl is coming West. What they don’t know is that it is cold in the Northeast & I HATE it!!  I like warm weather…. 

The outfit? 

Definitely compressions socks and a cap.  Those are a given. Possibly the outfit that got covered up during the rainy cold Lake George Half last April.

Maybe this outfit instead:

However, given that the temps will not be the 70’s or 80’s that I had hoped for…I will  have to bring  a short-sleeved shirt…either white, pink or green and a jacket. (I know will over pack!!)

Other important things:

book to read on the plane

 

new toy for blogging

Happy Running! Any advice in packing for destination races?

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Last Week in Review & an Impromptu Half

Monday –  5 miles (on Jones Beach boardwalk)
Tuesday – 3 miles (after work)
Wednesday – 2 miles on treadmill, Yoga 1.25 hrs
Thursday – REST
Friday – 2 miles (after work)
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 13.1 miles – Fall Foliage Half Marathon in Rhinebeck

2 weeks to go… until Half Marathon #5!

Happy Running!

 

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Mentoring & HM Goals

I’ve kinda been an absentee mentor.  I’ve been working, running or boating & have seen Amanda very infrequently since May.

So today I decided to take her & her 2 sons to Ellms Family Farm. We went there 2 years ago and had a lot of fun.

It was chillier than I would have liked.  Probably walking around a farm all day was not the besy way to rest but we had a good time.  There were a lot of fun things to do:  corn maze, zipline, rides, hayride…cider donuts, etc.

Can one have goals for a half marathon that is only a training run? Sure.

  • Finish.
  • Do not get injured.
  • Beat my last (untrained one) time of 2:45.
  • ENJOY it.

Happy Running! Enjoy this fall weekend!

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The Impromptu Half Marathon

Yeah, so where did this come from?

  • Last Saturday, I passed through Rhinebeck on my way to LI and I remarked to myself that “the foliage was really BEAUTIFUL here!”
  • On Tuesday, my friend said to me: “I went to the Sheep & Wool Fest in Rhinebeck last Sunday.  Rhinebeck is such a nice place to visit.”
  • Yesterday, I was on Facebook and an ad for the half marathon above appeared on my screen.
  • I clicked on the site and you could still register until tomorrow.
  • I checked weather.com and Sunday is supposed to sunny & in the high 50’s.
  • I have to run 12 or 13 miles for my last long training run this Sunday.
  • I hate trying to find a scenic place to do a long run. 
  • I also hate to carry water.

Voila! 

Half Marathon #4, a (expensive)  training run (with water stops) for the Santa Clarita Half Marathon in Cali on Nov 6 (which is now Half Marathon #5).

Just think, a year ago, I had never run more than a 5K and had no plans to do so ever.

Happy Running!  Have you ever signed up for a race on a whim?

 

 

 

 

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Update on Half Marathon #4

This year the Santa Clarita Marathon Race Committee will be using the newly open trails along the San Francisquito Creek to be part of the 2011 Half Marathon. The new trail system will be used for the majority of the race and will reduce the amount of street closure on McBean Parkway.

Uh oh.


I’ve never run on trails! Will that be a problem?

Happy Running!

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Last Week in Review

Monday – Tennis 1.5 hrs
Tuesday – 4 miles
Wednesday – 3 miles on treadmill, Yoga 1.25 hrs
Thursday – 5 miles
Friday – REST
Saturday – 12  miles
Sunday – REST

3 weeks to go… until Half Marathon #4!

(Will post about my High School Reunion tomorrow 🙂 )

Happy Running!

 

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Random Things on a Thursday

Since I work in a law school, the image above seems appropriate.

1.  I have my high school reunion this weekend (my 40th cough cough).  Thanks to Facebook for planning this event and that there’s no hiding how we’ve aged…  I will not post our high school photos but here’s one of the 6 of  us at the last (20 year) reunion:

 

2.  My diet isn’t going so well.  First I had to carb load for my 3rd half Marathon and now I have to carb load for my 4th Half Marathon.  What’s a runner girl to do?  Wear loose clothing, I guess.

3. I hate being sick!! I’m not real ill but just have that annoying stuffed nose, sneezing, sore throat, itchy eyes kind of cold.  It makes it hard to run when you feel crappy.  But better now than on Nov. 6, I say.

4. Thanks to all those slow runners who commented on my last post.  I’m glad I’m not alone.  Don’t get me wrong.  I enjoy reading blogs by those runners who want to PR every race, run the NYC Marathon, qualify for Boston, etc.  Unfortunately it’s not me.  I’m jealous, of course.  But we, penguins, still go out there and run and compete at our own pace.

5. I can’t believe it’s mid October.  The end of 2011 is right around the corner. Almost time to think about racing in 2012.  Unless Nov 6 goes horribly, I will want to do another Half Marathon. I definitely want to try a 10k and maybe get back some 5K speed (speed is relative here).

6. The running community where I work is growing!!!  Two more just completed their first half marathons last weekend.  YAY!  There are quite a few casual runners but now we have at least 7 serious runners.  It’s fun to talk running with them and have something in common beside work.

Happy Running!  Happy Thurday!