Back at it again

Yes it is true...i have taken yet more time off from running, yikes! I was doing pretty good last time I wrote, I have even signed up for another 1/2 Marathon in September. Which one you ask?

I am very excited, but also very nervous. It will have been a year since my last half marathon, so I want it to be even more amazing...well everything, the whole experience as well as my finish and finish time. So I discovered via a FB friend a training app called MyAsics. I used it for about a week, and then I got a cold. I couldnt run, it wouldnt have helped me get better. And of course I had signed up for a 10k the following week.

Here is a quick verbal recap with great pics!
So the race took place at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA, home to the New England Patriots!! I have heard of the race before, but just never signed up since it is in the beginning of July, which typically means high temperatures. And of course it was hot, but there was also a chance of rain which meant it was cloudy. So the weather was some what in our favor for a race starting at 6:30PM.

So my friends and I got there early, got to walk around and stretch for a bit. I saw the 5k runners start, there was a LOT of them! Even 5 of the NE patriot Cheerleaders were running.

The Finishers!!! Woo Hoo!

Then 6:15 or later approached we began lining up. I was not ready for this, but had some goals in mind, but knew if I didnt hit them, I would be ok with that. For the first 4 or so miles, leaving from the stadium parking lot, the race was in a residential neighborhood. And let me tell you, those were the best residents ever! Many of them were outside spraying their hoses and sprinklers at us runners to help keep us cool. It was mighty helpful and very much appreciated.

As we entered the back gate, the stadium was in our sites. Of course you think "I am almost there!" but in reality you still have roughly 1.5 or so miles to go. As you approach a stadium entrace (where you typically scan your ticket) there was a woman saying your almost there, which was kind of true...but still 3/4mile to go i would say. They then take you back into the parking lot and have you run what seems like a mouse maze. Then the big finale!
A run through the tunnel! The inflatable helmet tunnel! It was cool! Photographers are all lined up through to the finish, which of course I forgot to mention the race was called "Finish at the 50" so like it says, the finish like was on the 50 yard line! It was awesome!

free red, white & blue hat swag, haha...so fashionable

gracious residents!

and they had beer..

the end is in sight...but its not as close as you think!

a shot of the finish line!

a delicious and well deserved burger!

Finisher medal!!

it's official, 1/2 #3 here I come!

There is no turning back now.
I have 24 days to whip my booty into shape for the Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon in Providence! I am very excited and nervous all at the same time. I went out for a 4mile run today and was able to maintain an average pace under 13 minutes. If I can achieve that during the half, then I should have no problem finishing in 3 hours.

I am still trying to get used to my intervals, and I did my best to stick to it as much as I could today, but there were a few times I either hit pause accidently or I walked early, at the 30 second warning vibration. So now I need to create a schedule and stick to it, and push through it. I need to get back to eating healthier as well!

As you can see Fall is creeping its way in! I am super excited! I wasn't even halfway through my run when I spotted the tree and its slowly changing leaves! It has me very excited! Fall it my favorite, and I definitely feel my training gets better with the fall weather. That said, I really hope I improve as the days get closer and closer to the RnR 1/2.

 

I finally picked up a foam roller as well, which is not only helpful for after runs, but for my back. My chiropractor gave me a set of exercises/stretches to help strengthen my back, and this will help loosen and stretch as well. And I also am getting tired of holding a water bottle, or carrying my 10oz fuelbelt bottle on short runs so I found a Fuel Belt (16oz?) handheld with strap. It was a lot easier, but I still feel like I always have so much to carry/wear for a run. Bonus, I found it at TJMax for $5.99! What a deal!

I shared my picture of my patella band for my knee, well I decided to wear it on my right knee since it seems to be clicking a little more when I am just walking around, but then during my run my left knee was feeling a little sore. So I guess its back to Dicks Sporting Goods for another one. I thought part of the reason to run was to become healthier and improve my body, but I guess its not always that way! haha.

 

So here it goes. I am really looking forward to getting myself immersed into training.

 

What are your must do's when training for your big race?

What has been your favorite mantra/saying to keep youself motivated?

Do you have any race rituals/routines?

 

-Stephanie

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." -Les Brown

 

Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon

1/2 Marathon #2 in the books! I have to say it was tougher than my first, but I finished and that is what really counts! As much as I feel bad about how I had to complete it, I know I am not alone and that makes me feel better, and I feel good about doing it and don't regret it! I have some thoughts to share and then some pictures I will share!

So once we arrived at the race, it was kind of a race to get to packet pick up and a bag check sort of thing, then to get in line! My friend Ben, who is a faster runner than I, was telling me that we were going to start together in the 9:30 pace group, I then replied by laughing in his face..but then found myself there anyways. I think that could have be a contributing factor to the way I felt...but whatever. So from the start my knee also was bothering me, both of them. Not in pain, but just a weird annoying feeling. Which when I asked the medical tent at the finish they said it was probably my knees spasming..which I have never experienced...at least not constantly for 6 MILES!
The worst was after mile two we began to ascend a huge hill that I will never be a fan of. Instead of walking, it felt more like a climb...



It is hard to tell a bit, but all up the road is only PART of the hill...the rest continues to climb up through that park up ahead.

But I made it up, got to a water stop and continued to walk myself through the fatigue and then run downhill at a point.

We then met up with mile 5, which thank goodness for a port-a-potty! Having to pee affected me a bit, but I didn't really have time when I first got to the race to go, so that didn't help either. While in line, I started talking to two girls who I had seen for a while. They invited me to run a 3min run/2min walk pace with them. I was all for it, but my knees weren't.

So this is where I feel disappointed. At mile 6, after passing the start/finish line area, I decided to walk to mile 7 in hopes of running again. Well...that didn't really pan out. From then on I was A LOT! I couldn't help it, it was so hot...and not having much shade along the course wasn't helpful. I did get to see some pretty sights, but I was feeling down on myself about walking, and tried to run here and there when I felt good enough too, especially if there was any down hill parts...that made things easier.

As I had said in a previous post, I was hoping to finish in 3 hours maximum, but I finished in 3:21:27. I will take it. I wasn't the only one who slowed down. People who normally finish in 90min, finished in 2 hours. I wasn't the only one who pretty much walked the last 4 miles either, which helped me regain some confidence in my wise choice, and I am glad I did and didn't end up being on of the 5+ people who were sent to the hospital for heat exhaustion! So I have to say that I am not disappointed, but only wished that I could have run more of the course than walked! And I am sure I am not alone in that thought!

I would have to say that if it is cooler, I would do it again! Which is a good feeling!

Enjoy the photos!

Laying out the night before!



 

-Stephanie

Labor Day Weekend: Virtual 5mile Race

I decided today I would get my long run in outside, enjoy the weather..and the fact that it was actually cooler like I thought it would be (unlike last run outside where it was still pretty warm!)

Today started with some laziness though, just laying around in bed. Then it was off to my sister-in-laws to see my mother-in-law who was babysitting my neice for the weekend. Rich and I went over there to see Sofia, our neice and to spend time with his Mom since she had been by herself since I think friday with Sofia. She is the cutest thing and soo beautiful!

Of course along our way to her house, I saw a whole bunch of people out on their runs. I thought wow, why am I not out there right now? Then of course Rich started to tease me a bit saying that all the other runners were saying "how come Stephanie isnt out here running right now!?" haha. Then he mentioned that they are all probably out right now because it is suppose to rain, which I completely forgot about. So that had be worried, but hey if it was raining, I would just go to the gym. Its a good back fall.

So we were over there for til about 4, which seemed like we were there for a lot longer, and I was really tired, not like I did to much either. So we got home around 430 and I thought I would take about a 30-45 minute nap before my run just so I would have enough energy. It turned into about an hour nap, and it was good! But I was still a bit groggy, and it was roughly 6pm!

Seeing that is was starting to get late, I had a quick snack, put all my gear on and got ready to go! Seeing how I was determined to get a 5 mile run in, I strapped on my new running belt on in order to be able to have some water with me!

Nathan Trail Mix 2 Hydration Belt

I like the belt, it stays in place and doesnt ride up. The bottles are a bit small, but I figure when it comes time for the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon, I will be able to get water or whatever at the water/food stops through out the race and save my water for times when I need it and there is nothing around. I was able to split up the water from a regular water bottle, like Dasani into both water bottles. I was going to try to put some ice in each one, but the cubes wont fit into the openings.

So not only was I able to get in a long run, I figured a 5mile was a good choice since my Princess friend Nicole shared this Virtual race page. http://anywhere5k.com/races/ It has a calendar for virtual races, meaning you can run anywhere anytime of a certain distance and then somehow your distance and time is shared. I registered through a blog titld MommyRunFast in which Laura talks about the virtual races, etc. So I registered after I ran and had my dinner! So now I just need to wait to receive an email back asking for my race time and distance, along with my blog entry or any photos that I may have took.

(This is the Bib for the virtual Run that Laura from MommyRunFast posted for thoe who joined in on the fun could wear...if I had seen it before my run I would have worn it!)

I didnt take any photos, but it was a good-great run. I ran through parts of town that I have been through on a run before, plus others I havent. Some were just side roads, that I figured woul help in extended my run and making sure I made it to 5miles before or just as I would reach home. Some miles felt longer than others. But thanks to my lovely RunStar app, I was able to set up a notification for each mile, and it would also tell me how long I have been running and the pace of each mile, which was AWESOME! It made me very happy, but I also felt that I would become anxious as I felt that I had reached another mile because it felt so long, but indeed I hadnt because I had not received a notification yet.

So all in all, I am proud of myself for getting it done, not giving up, and maintaining pace! My last mile was actually the quickest mile, shaving 20-27 seconds off compared to each of the miles before. If that makes sense...Well each mile, 1-4, was about 14.20-27 minutes each, and mile 5 was 13.58minutes.

Yay me!

Stephanie
"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship"