Races

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Naples Half Marathon Pre-Race Report

After spending 4 hours in the Philadelphia airport, I finally arrived in Fort Myers, Florida Friday at 11pm.  My hubby was patiently (not really) waiting and we drove to the hotel in Naples.

I booked this motel because it was within walking distance to the race and cheap ($79/night!).  I called them and told them I would be arriving late & they said they would leave the room open!?

Anyway, we found the hotel. It was quaint (polite term) with few of the comforts of home (but how much time would we spend in the room, anyway?)

After a restless night, I got up and noticed that there was a Starbucks across the street.  Hooray and off I went for a vanilla latte and oatmeal.

When I got back, my hubby had made friends with the owner (and her 4 feral cats) and got us a new larger  room with a balcony, overlooking the pool.   (The owner thought it was just me, a runner renting the room & gave our room to someone else who hadn’t arrived yet.)

After we moved our stuff, we headed out to Naples on the Run, the store that was handing out the race packets. So exciting!!

Next, we drove to World Tennis Center so I could show my hubby where I rent with my tennis buds every year, and introduce him around (esp to Billy Bob, our tennis instructor & Annie, our landlord.)

Then we spent the rest of the day at Lowdermilk Beach.  It was warm and sunny.  I was in heaven.  We even saw 4 dolphins swimming by.

For dinner, we went to the race-sponsored free pasta party & I carb loaded on zita & rolls.

After dinner, I continued the Naples tour.  We went to Naples pier.  Unfortunately, the clouds came out for sunset.  Then on to the Naples Dock & Tin City and down Fifth Avenue.

I was in bed by 9pm and set my alarm for 5 am.  Not sure if I would get any sleep?

Happy Running! Stay tuned for the Race Report!

 

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Half Marathon Update

 

I did it!!!!!!!!!!!

My flight home got cancelled so I’m still in Florida and at a hotel near the airport with Internet!

The race was awesome!  I had so much fun!  It was much easier than I thought!  I ran the whole thing (except the water stops). 

According to my Garmin – My time was 2:26 but the official listed time was 2:28!!!

I finished 682 overall among women (41 in my age group) and 1488 overall (among almost 2000 racers).

I’ll post a detailed race report when I get home!

Can’t wait to do another HALF!

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I’m in Florida!

I scheduled this post so I hope I am really in Florida…

 I’m not sure if I am more excited about leaving frigid, snowy Albany, NY

Albany Weather Forecast

and going to warm, sunny Naples, Florida

Naples Weather Forecast

 or running a Half Marathon!

Happy Running!

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Last Post Before the Big Day

 Thanks Tall Mom for the reminder!

I think I can!

As Lance Armstrong says: “Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.”

But  I may have a problem…I think I am a SHOE-AHOLIC! At least  a running shoe-aholic.

After my running shoe experience on the treadmill Tuesday and the fact that my foot felt fine in my tennis shoes  led me to believe that new shoes would help  so off to Dick’s I went…now I have a new pair of ASICS gels!! (in addition to my new Mizunos). They have a bigger toe box so we’ll see.

Against all the bloggers’ advice, I went to the gym yesterday to test my new shoes on the treadmill. I know I should have rested my feet but the suspense was killing me and I needed to break in my new shoes!!   I planned to just walk on the treadmill. So instead of a 3 miles run, I walked 1/2 mi and then ran for 1 1/2 miles.  I wouldn’t say pain-free but much BETTER!!

Now onto important things:

What to wear for my first Half Marathon??

I’m leaning toward the running skirt on the left.  I’ve worn it before and the skirt has side pockets.  I have a throw away black jacket & pants for the morning when it is dark & cool.

My Goals?

Too many unknowns for lofty goals. I’ve never run this far EVER.  How will my foot feel????  I’ve been training in the cold weather and Naples will be warm & humid.

So my goals for my first half marathon are:

  • to finish (hopefully under 2:45)
  • to run more than walk
  • to ENJOY the experience

I’m leaving work early today to fly to Fort Myers.  My husband who has been on the East coast of Florida all week will meet me there and we will drive to Naples.

Tomorrow I will pick up my racing packet and show my hubby my favorite places in Naples.  There is a pasta party for the racers in the evening.

Can’t wait!

Happy Running!

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Wednesday Winnings and Woes

The Good News:  I won another giveaway!!! Two pairs of socks from AJH.  I love socks!!!

My husband arrived in Florida on Monday where it is sunny and almost 80.  Here in the NE, we are having a BIG snowstorm. Luckily my neighbors have promised to plow out my driveway. We may have a foot by the end of the day!!!

I played tennis last nite – 1 1/2 hours and no foot pain!!! (Can I run in tennis sneakers!?)

The Bad News: I ran my tapering 3 miles on the treadmill yesterday morning with my loose, barely tied new sneakers & my right foot STILL hurts.  It stops hurting when I stop running so……….

Do I skip my last 3 mile run and rest my foot till Sunday?? Or do I follow my training plan (3 miles tomorrow) and grin and bear it??

Happy Running!  4 Days till….

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My “Old” Feet

Yup, 5 days till my Half Marathon and my feet still hurt.

I haven’t talked about it because it’s too depressing. I try to ignore it in hopes it will go away.

The other day after the Chi Running workshop, when I complained that my feet hurt on the inside, the instructor asked me, “Do you have bunions?”

I said “Maybe, take a look.” and then she said “Yup, looks like you’ve got bunions forming.”

Oh no, I thought. I’m OLD. Only old people have bunions!!

She told me to stand and then she said that  to compensate for the bunions that I refuse to have, my stance can throw off my gait and lead to hip problems, knee problems, back problems.  I have them all.

According to the Internet, bunions are “painful swellings that usually develop on the inner side of the foot near the base of the first toe (hallux).” Often genetic (thanks, Mom!); usually found in women; thought also to be caused by high heels (Yes, I love high heels), or flat feet (but I have high arches).

 So, I have these disgusting bumps and they rub against my shoe.  That’s why my feet hurt!!

Solutions I have tried:

  • wearing flat shoes during the day (well, I’ve only done that recently- I think the damage is done)
  • wearing toe spacers
  • wearing bandaids on my “bunions”
  • ice after running
  • ibuprofen
  • new running shoes (my arches feel much better with these but not my “bunions”)
  • tying my shoes loosely and unlacing the top  rows also as shown  below:

 In doing some “Bunion” research, I  found out that  Paula Radcliffe suffered from bunions.  Hers were so painful that she had surgery and then won a Half Marathon 6 months later (after 9 weeks off for recovery, ouch!)

Radcliffe running with pain

Do I buy another pair of running shoes? They say the Asics Gel 3010 features a new bunion window:

ASICS Women's GEL 3020 - Dick's Sporting Goods

Then again, it could be worse— stress fracture?? (Am I a hypchrondriac???)

Pain or no pain, I’m running (or walking) my Half Marathon!! I’ll see about my foot (the right one hurts worse) after that!!!

Happy (Painfree) Running!

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Monday Goals

Last week Update:

 My goal was 19 miles and I ran 19,5  miles!!

This week’s schedule:

Mon – dinner w/friend
Tues – tennis
Wed – dentist
Thurs – help a friend
Fri – fly to Florida
Sat – pick up race packet, pasta party

This week’s running:

Tues– 3 miles before work
Thurs – 3  miles before work
Sun: HALF MARATHON!!

Weekly Running Goal = 19 miles
January Monthly Running Goal = 50 miles, a half marathon

Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles

Happy Running!

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Last Long Run and a Windy One

Yesterday I woke up to 8 inches of snow so I decided to postpone my last long run till today.

I had signed up for the HMRRC Winter Series 10k but I was debating whether or not I wanted to do it.

Yes:

  • It’s free
  • I know a lot of runners who are doing it
  • I missed my last 10K
  • I’ve never done a 10K (so it’ll be a PR)
  • Snowless running route
  • Free refreshments

No:

  • I don’t know the course or its difficulty
  • I’ll run faster than my long run pace (because I’m competitive)
  • If I don’t run fast, my time will suck (& I’ll be bummed)
  • I’ll have to run at 10am
  • I’m supposed to do at least 8 miles today
  • What if I get injured?

I got up and got dressed to run it but…

I checked my e-mail and my husband who is leaving for Florida tomorrow had a flight through Charlotte.  Charlotte is expecting a blizzard & it was recommended that passengers switch flights. Well, I spent over an hour on the phone with USAir and finally got him booked on a flight thru DC that leaves at 5:50 am.

Yup, I missed the race but instead I went out and did my LAST LONG RUN!!!

It was supposed to be 8 miles but I only ran 10 miles this week instead of 13 so I decided to stretch the run to 9.5 miles.

It’s not getting easier.  It was cold and it was very WINDY!!! Half of the route, I was running into the wind and felt like I was getting no where and it made me tired.  Another factor, I chose to go straight and wound up with a hILLY route. I walked up all the hills so that I could have the energy to run the rest.

I love my Garmin!  It tells me exactly what my pace is and what it is for each mile.  I have it set to beep when I’m running fast (under  9 min/mi) and also when I’m running slow (over 12 mi/min).  Of course, it beeped when I was running down the hills and when I was walking.  Whenever,my pace near the end of a  mile was slow, I just sped up.

My feet still hurt, but my legs and knees feel great. I finished the 9.5 miles in about 1 hr 45 min – I was very SLOW but my half marathon goal is to finish under 2 hr 45 min. So I think even if I walk a lot, I can do it. 

This week I taper – just two 3 mile runs.  I think I will use the treadmill since in Naples, it will be warm & humid (like the gym!).

Happy Running!

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McMillan..McSchmillan

Someone mentioned that the McMillan Calculator can help you  figure out what your finish time & pace would be at different races.  So I tried it.

It says to put in your best time at a distance you run (which is 5k for me).  Here’s the results:

No way I will finish 13.1 miles in 2:07:07!!!

So I put in my average time over the course of my 5ks.  Here’s the results:

2:18:40? I don’t think so but it would be nice.

Then I put in the pace I think  I will run a 5k at this distance.  Here’s the results:

2:37:10. Now that’s more like it!!

Of course, I didn’t need the McMillan Calculator  to predict that!

Happy Running!

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It’s a Small World

It’s 11 days til my half marathon so I logged onto the website and checked out the list of participants and what did I find???

What are the odds that someone from Albany, NY (where I work & near where I live) is running a half in Naples, Florida??

So what did I do?  I googled him, of course.  I found the website where he works and it turns out that he lives in Albany, is originally from LI and is an avid Mets fan.  JUST LIKE ME!!!!!

Cool and the site had a chat room and he was even online at the time!!! We had a great online conversation!!! It is his first half marathon.  Hs wife is going but doesn’t run.  He normally does not run in the winter but thought this would motivate him.  He plans on running a 12 min mile (normally he runs 5ks at a faster pace) and his only goal is to finish!!

Who does that sound like??

 He ran 12 mi on Sun and is now tapering…. We exchanged phone numbers and hopefully we’ll meet up at the race.

Speaking of tapering…I’m giving my aching feet a rest & rethinking the shoes.  I’m playing tennis in the evenings and plan to return to running Wed. Thurs, Fri for short runs and then 8 mi on Sunday.

Happy Running!