3M Half Marathon - New PR!!!

I love the 3M half marathon course, it's an awesome route that is mostly downhill and ends at the capital.  This was my 2nd time running 3M and I earned a new PR!!!  All that marathon training really paid off and shaved a good 3 mins from my last 3M time.  :)  HOLLA!

For race day weather.com said it would be 42 degrees at 7am and 48 degrees by 9am, with 8-10 mph winds.  I tossed and turned all night debating what to wear.  I figured with the wind chill it would feel cooler so I decided to go with my new lulu tights, long sleeve compression shirt and team beef tank, hydration vest and hat (no gloves and no ear warmers).  The night before the race I had my first Team Beef dinner as a Beef Tip at Steiner Ranch.  The food was excellent and the hubby got a free Team Beef t-shirt.  We dined on bread, salad, beef tips (hehehe) with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli and bread pudding for dessert.  I'm still getting accustomed to eating beef before a run instead of pasta.

The next morning I woke up at 4:50am to get ready, eat my peanut butter toast and meet the girls at 5:45am for carpooling.  We made it to Dave & Busters around 6:15am, with just enough time to hit up the potties and enter the corrals with 5 mins to spare (7am race start).  I lined up at the 1:50 pacer with Jenn, Amanda and Day.  Many of the pfelly lane runners were in this race, I think Kim and Susan were a few people back from us, and a few others were at the 1:55 mark.  We sang the anthem, ate a Gu and then it was go time!

Let's get this party started!  1/25/2015

It was cold at the start and in the dark, but nothing too unbearable.  I stayed with Amanda for the first 4 miles before dropping back a bit, Jenn and Day were slightly ahead.  Around mile 3 I noticed a sign that said "run more than your mouth".  It made me laugh and think of Jenn because she really wants a shirt that with that phrase, I didn't realize until later that Mary and Tina were holding that sign and cheering us on!  Around mile 5 I realized I could have worn a short sleeved shirt (and possibly arm warmers).  I think it was btw mile 8&9 when I saw Tina and Mary again and was able to wave to them.  Mile 8 was also where the Team Beef volunteers cheered us on.

Running past Team Beef

Around mile 9 my HR monitor went off which meant that Pete was close by, sure enough he passed me within a couple mins.  Mile 10 for some reason was brutal, there was a bit of an incline and the sun was shining so it felt warm.  I remember thinking "why was I doing this again, why put myself through the pain? and why did I sign up for another marathon!" but I pushed forward.  Next thing I knew I was coming around the bend where the finish line awaited.  I noticed Mary and Tina again right at the last turn, they were really rooting me on because I was slightly ahead of the 1:55 pacer!  I picked up speed and crossed that finish line in 1:55:23 (8:43/M for 13.22 miles)!!!  My official chip time was 1:55:21 (8:48/M for 13.1 miles), a new PR!!!

Food reward at the end and view of the capital!

Pete and I at the finish

Pfelly lane runners!

My left bottom foot did bother me the entire run, which could have been due to the fact that I wore brand new shoes and new socks.  Otherwise I felt great at the end. :D  Next time when it's 40+ I need to remember to wear capris, a short sleeved shirt and arm warmers, then I'll feel a bit cooler.  After I received my medal I picked up my gear from the gear check buses and headed over to the HEB tent to reconnect with all my runner friends and sherpas.  It was a perfect day for an amazing race with friends.

Avg pace - 8:43 (going off 13.22 miles Garmin)
Mile 1 - 8:18, Mile 2 - 8:10, Mile 3 - 8:23, Mile 4 - 8:16, Mile 5 - 8:41, Mile 6 - 8:52, Mile 7 - 8:57, Mile 8 - 8:49, Mile 9 - 9:01, Mile 10 - 9:10 (warm and slight incline, tough!), Mile 11 - 8:58, Mile 12 - 8:56, Mile 13 - 8:54, last 0.22 - 1:52 (8:37 pace)

medal

Race prep:
What I ate:  Team Beef dinner at Steiner Ranch; beef tips, bread, mashed potatoes and broccoli.  For breakfast I had a piece of toast with peanut butter.  I wore my hydration vest so I didn't have to stop at any water stops, 3 Gu's total throughout the race (1 at start, mile 5 and mile 10).
What I wore:  My lulu tights, a compression long sleeved shirt, team beef tank, hat, Garmin watch, hydration vest, Brooks Glycerin shoes (brand new), wrightsocks double layer.  I did gear check for the first time so that I had a sweatshirt after the race.
Other items I carried:  3 Gu's, mp3 player, phone.

Rogue Distance Half Marathon

I decided to sign up for the Rogue Distance race last min, last min meaning 1-2 weeks before the race.  Normally I sign up for races way in advance, but I needed a 12 mile training run the same weekend and figured why not just run a race!  This was also my first race for Team Beef, double score!

On race day it 33 degrees at 7am and 36 degrees by 9am with 1-3 mph winds, plus it misted on us the entire time.  The misting was better than the original forecast from the night before of pouring down rain.  Cold + rain = pretty miserable running conditions.  I wore long pants, a compression long sleeved shirt, reflective running jacket, team beef tank, gloves, hat and ear warmers.  The damp weather made it feel even colder.

Pre-race, before the cold and the wet.  1/11/2015

Amanda and I carpooled to the race in Cedar Park.  Luckily the high school was open so we could wait in the cafeteria until race time.  Sooooo  much better than standing out in the cold.  There was a 20 min delay in the race as there was a medical emergency on the course (not related to the race), this also resulted in a last min reroute, which is why the course was 12.91 vs 13.1 miles (0.2 miles off).

running running running

During the race I felt in between temp wise, sometimes a little warm and other times cold, I took my gloves off around mile 3.  The course had rolling hills which actually weren't that bad and it snaked its way through the subdivisions.  The majority of the time I ended up running alone, so it didn't feel like a race...seriously no other runners around me.  Thankfully they had a lot of people on the course directing us where to turn.  Most of the time my route was in parallel with the 30K, but there were several places they went in separate directions and I had to be told which way to turn.  I'm so glad I had updated my mp3 player from the marathon, I had some great music to listen to so the race went by quickly.  Next thing I knew I had 2 miles left and I was making excellent time!  Soon the finish line was in sight and I actually had enough energy to really kick it up across the finish.  I felt great!  Overall it was actually great weather for a race despite the misting; cold and overcast.

My official chip time was 1:57:03 in 13.1 miles which is a 8:56 avg pace, NEW PR!!!  My Garmin clocked 1:57:28 in 12.91 at a 9:05 avg pace.  Since the start and finish were at the same place I was able to go back into the HS and wait for Amanda (she was running the 30K).  While inside I checked my official time and found out that I had placed 1st in my age group!!!!  I beat my 3M PR of 1:58:58 by 1 min and 55 seconds and received a first place trophy.

Avg pace - 9:04 (12.91 miles in 01:57:03)
Mile 1 - 8:37, Mile 2 - 9:10, Mile 3 - 9:06, Mile 4 - 8:47, Mile 5 - 9:04, Mile 6 - 9:01, Mile 7 - 9:37, Mile 8 - 8:59, Mile 9 - 9:08, Mile 10 - 9:22, Mile 11 - 9:30, Mile 12 - 9:04, last 0.91 - 7:58 (8:43 pace)

Glorious finish!

Medals!

1st place in my age group for the half marathon!

Bragging rights

Race prep:

What I ate:  Pasta and bread the night before from Macaroni Grill.  For breakfast I had a piece of toast with peanut butter.  As I had my hydration vest I didn't have to stop at any water stops, 3 Gu's total throughout the race.
What I wore:  Long pants, a compression long sleeved shirt, reflective running jacket, team beef tank, gloves, hat and ear warmer, garmin watch, hydration vest, Brooks Glycerin shoes, wrightsocks double layer.  I had a change of clothes in the car since we were gonna be soaked from all the rain.
Other items I carried:  3 Gu's, mp3 player, car key.

2014 Running Review

2014 was an excellent running year for me, new races and new distances!  I did have some feet issues again and had to go see my sports doctor.  He recommend custom orthotics, which are crazy expensive.  I was devastated, I really didn't want to have to shell out $300+ for insoles.  I went to the insole specialist the Dr suggested and after he watched me walk he recommended a standard insole!  Thank goodness since these Spenco inserts are actually affordable and they ended up being a life saver!  I use them in all my running shoes and haven't had any issues or injuries since.  :D

I ran 4 races in 2014, one of them being my very first marathon!!!  Injury free too.  ;)  I've met a lot of awesome ladies in our hood, and thanks to them they made training for my marathon enjoyable!  I also joined the neighborhood bootcamp (with the running ladies) for about 2 months, which I really believe helped to strength my core enough to take on the marathon.  Towards the end of the year I was accepted by Team Beef to be a Beef Tip in 2015!!  Once I complete the requirements (3 races and a volunteer event) I will become a full member and receive reimbursements on my races as well as other perks (beef dinners, etc).

Total miles run:  984

Races:
4/13 - Austin1020 my first race back post baby #2.  10 miles, 1:44:28 (10:20 pace)
5/10 - Ants in your Pants 5K - 3.1 miles, 27:00 (8:43 pace)
6/12 - Maudie's Moonlight Margarita 5K @ 8pm - I about died due to the heat.  29:21 (9:28 pace)
12/7 - SA Rock n Roll Marathon - 26.2 miles, 4:52:57 (11:11 pace).  Really ran 26.48 at 11:03 pace.

Marathon finisher photo

bragging rights