Race Flashback: 2013 Summerfest Rock ‘n Sole Half Marathon

Half Marathon #8 is over and done with.  Hard to believe last time I did this race, it was only my 2nd half marathon ever. And I could not have been any less prepared for this race. I was totally untrained and completely forgot all forms of Garmin, watches, ipods, trackers of any sort so I also ended up running this race completely blind AND unprepared. Awesome combo, Kinley…good job.

Packet pickup was a huge improvement from 2011 at least – at the Italian Community Center and I walked there after work on Thursday and picked up my packet and left. Kinda felt sad that I was not the least bit interested in the race expo this time when those are normally my favorite things about races but the last thing I wanted to do was spend money on running gear right now. Got my bib and t-shirt and got out of there quick (the t-shirt is horrible btw, seams everywhere, picky and way too tight – one thing 2011 was better with!)

Friday I tried to just lay low and skip my lunchtime walk at work as my “taper” lol! Ended up walking plenty though just from regular things that day. My sister, our friend and I got P.F. Chang’s for dinner and a good carbo-load! That was delicious!! I also managed to be in bed at a reasonable time and fell right asleep – absolutely no tossing and turning like before normal races I am actually nervous and prepared for

Saturday morning I woke up at the butt-crack of dawn to get ready and… POURING RAIN! Not gonna lie and say that made me super happy. Sprinkles and showers I can handle but this was a literal downpour. But by the time 6am rolled around and it was time for us to head Downtown, the rain had tapered off some so that was promising.

The corral area at the start was an absolute disaster. I was in corral J but still had to go in the southern side of the entrance and walk all the way north on Lincoln Memorial Drive to get to my corral – brainstorm for next year? Half Marathoners go in one side, Quarter in another?!?! Not that hard people. Runners can be some of the slowest walkers I have EVER been around. We stood still for a good 5 minutes waiting to funnel through a 10′ opening. I am no genius but even I could have guessed 9,000 runners do not fit in a 10′ opening – just saying!

Once I got to my corral, it was nice and not crowded so that part I have no complaints with! We got started a few minutes late – I want to say about 10 or so? But once we got moving, there was plenty of room for most of the race (running on the single lane trails later on did get a little crowded but that was maybe a mile or so).

Here we go!

Mile 1: OMG, I can’t do this. Why did I not just stay home this morning. I hate the Hoan Bridge, why do they think this is something fun for us to run up?

Mile 2: Thank God this is down hill for awhile. Love the smell of sewer treatment in the morning!

Mile 3: Oh joy, back up the other side of the bridge. And MORE SEWER TREATMENT SMELLS, YES!!!!!!!

Mile 4: Great, farthest I have ever run in “training” bahaha!

Mile 5: Time for a Gu – these are gross. Man, running is FUN!

Mile 6: Hasta la vista Hoan Bridge! Time for some flatter running and the quarter marathoners are split off now so that’s nice. My sister and A should be around here somewhere, better be on the lookout for them! I wish my dog was here to see Half-way there, no problem! I got this!

No Problem!

Mile 7: OMG A HUGE HILL! I want to die. I am never running a race again. I still have how many miles? Man, people are stupid when they cut across a hoard of runners and then just stop and gawk in front of me – I’m not stopping “Hurry Up!” Seriously people, common sense is not rocket science.

Mile 8: Ahhh, some more downhill action. This is nice. Saw a guy with nipple chafing issues and can’t stop laughing and thinking of Andy running in the 5k on the Office.

 

Mile 9: Trying to text the sister and find out my stupid phone has turned itself to Swype. How the heck did that happen and how can I change it… mile 9.5 still can’t figure it out. Swear and give up trying to fix it and text her about the chaffing.

Mile 10: Wow, my legs hurt. Why didn’t I train. Only a 5k left, no quitting now. At least I hit double digits and it’s still not raining at all! No heat either. Take another Gu and hope that sits OK in my stomach. Hope the sugar kicks in soon…

Mile 11: 2.1 to go. That’s just a walk with the dog. I need to walk more than 1 minute this mile. Maybe I can shoot for half mile walk breaks. Left, right, left, right. Remember Lakefront, you hurt so much worse on this same stretch of road. Just suck it up and be glad this is not a marathon.

Mile 12: 1.1 to go. Almost there. The pain will end soon. The medal looks cool. Man, I really get annoyed by runners to walk backwards and flaunt their completion in my face. Go drink more beer at the finish line and leave me to suffer in peace. Remember last time? They switched the race to black flag at this point. And we have a green flag this year!! Yeah! I’ll try to “pick up the pace” from here in.

Mile 12.75: I want to walk… SO BAD! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. Run. Almost. There. SO. Close.

Mile 13: Can see the finish line – 2:22 something on the clock. Ok, time to gun for the finish so you feel like you want to die when you are done. Definitely did not take you that long to run this race. That’s way better than the best case scenario finish times running through my brain all day! And wait? I didn’t cross right away so that’s not even my time! Whoot! Wonder if I will see my sister and A when I cross…. can’t look and sprint!

Mile 13:1 Oh thank you, God! I made it. I didn’t even pass out. I can stop running now… and yet I can’t because then my legs might seize up… oh great. Where’s my medal? Oh, banana, potato chips, chocolate milk? Don’t mind if I do! Oh. Ouch. Walking hurts. Must find a place to sit down.

All in all, this race went FAST? Is that because my last long race was a marathon? It’s weird to me that a half marathon could go fast but this one really did. It’s like I skipped from miles 3-11 in about two seconds. Finding my sis and A after the race was a little challenging but I eventually did and then they took a few finish photos for me and we headed back to the car.

The walk back to the car was a little slow – lol. Guess parking near the race would not have been the end up the world but I was too cheap to pay $5 when I have my parking garage just a mile away

I don’t really know if I will feel like doing this race again in the near future but I’m glad I have a better taste in my mouth after 2011. Definitely an improvement on most counts. To top it all off, I set a course PR on this race – 2:17:03. Thank you, legs. I’m very sorry

And now any bets on whether I train for the Madison Mini in about two months? Bahahahaha!

Pre-Race Nerves.

Gee, I wonder why I am nervous for my half marathon on Saturday? Could it have anything to do with the fact I have not really run in the past two months? Probably not, right?? Oh well, I am starting to have a reputation for doing races I don’t train for and I feel like my luck has got to be waning but… I guess we shall see on Saturday! I have done a number of very long walks so I am relatively confident I can walk the course if needed.

I also need to remember packet pick-up on Thursday!! (or Friday as a back up if I forget) and also try to remember what else I might need to run 13.1 miles…

I did run a whopping four miles on Saturday that went surprisingly well so hopefully I only have to walk nine miles of Summerfest  I have a good crew to cheer me so that will help as well!

Five wake-ups until I will be running over the Hoan Bridge again… *shudder*

I hope it’s not this hot again…

I die.

I don’t know how I missed this last week but…

RUNDISNEY RELEASED THE DUMBO DOUBLE DARE MEDALS!

 

I admit, I screamed a little in my head at the cuteness. RunDisney has outdone themselves again!

Obviously my sister was not as impressed as I was… since she withheld this vital information from me the whole week. Lot of good she is

105 days to get my running ass in gear so I can do this! Um……

Wish me luck!?

Are you a medal lover or a medal tosser? I can’t imagine not being excited for the finish medal, regardless of the cuteness level!

Running Hates Me.

I have not been running. Like at all in probably 5-6 weeks? I don’t even remember the last run I went on but it was not a memorable one or one that caused me injury or anything like that. And at the moment, I have absolutely zero interest to run (and therefore blog about running). But…

I still have this nagging feeling that I really want to run another marathon…someday. Heck, I’d even be happy with a good training cycle leading into a half marathon. But I think my body might hate running. Or at least the distances I ran training for my marathon(s) last year. Or maybe the fact that I am an idiot and ran three marathons in a year when I was not really trained well for any of them? Your guess is as good as mine…

I run for DQ Blizzards.

But I do know I swore after Disney that I would NEVER run a marathon again. Ever. And here I am just five-ish months later already craving another one. It probably does not help I am coming up on the one year anniversary of when I was supposed to run my first marathon. All I know for sure is running must be an addiction. Or something.

Never. Running. Again.

I guess time will only tell if I ever run a marathon again. Or a mile for that matter. But one thing has not changed, my brain still thinks I am a runner!

Anyone else ever been in a months long running funk that just won’t go away?! 

#PrayingforBoston

I haven’t felt very compelled to blog lately but this morning I couldn’t help but write up the following after yesterday’s tragic, horrific events. Even if you are not normally a praying type, please pray this with me today:

Dear Father,

Please be with those who are still in critical condition in Boston today. Please bring them healing.

Please be with the doctors and the nurses in Boston. Please give them what they need to help those who are injured.

Please be with those who have lost family members, especially the parents of the little boy who was killed yesterday. Please don’t let his parents ever play the “what if?” game in their heads. Please be with his sister who will never be the same again.

Thank you for the fast acting medics at the race yesterday. I have no doubt those fast responses helped save lives.

Thank you for the police, the FBI and other emergency response personnel. Please keep them safe and provide them with the information they need to bring this terrorist to justice.

Please be with the entire running community. Even though many of us were not there yesterday, we are all feeling an inexplicable connection to what happened yesterday, I just know it. There is something strange about runners that makes us all feel like friends when we are on or off a race course.

Please help us all be nice to everyone today. Please help me be nice to everyone today. There is no doubt in my mind this world needs a whole lot more “nice” in it.

Please also be with those that still have hate in their hearts today. Please let this hate die and be replaced with compassion for others for we are all in this world together, for better or worse.

Thank you for the safety of those I knew of that were in Boston yesterday and the safety of all those that were far from the incident yesterday.

Please be with anyone and everyone affected by the tragedy yesterday.

Please help us to find healing in Your love.

In Your Name we pray,

Amen.

Race Flashback: Lucky Leprechaun 7k 2013

I got to race over the weekend! Like actually race, race. I think the last time I ran a race that I felt I could push myself was the Turkey Trot back in November of ’11… And talk about a totally different everything from last year’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend running… So where to begin?!

I woke up to actually find snow on the ground on Saturday, not really something I was expecting. I don’t recall ever doing a race when there was snow on the ground! When I signed up for this race, I was not at all thinking Spring would still be a distant event, especially considering last year’s race was 80 degrees and I was frantically trying to rip the sleeves off my shirt because I was way too hot. I guess a year makes a big difference! (and PS, the groundhog needs to be shot and a new one hired, this one is as accurate as the weather forecasters…)

The race started at 9am down in Tosa and my parents decided to come along and cheer me on! Little did they know they were going to freeze as well. The start area was SO crowded (3,500+ runners!) and considering this was the inaugural year, I really hope they realize the course cannot support that number, let alone any additional that will join next year. Parking was chaos, running was terribly cramped and the finish area was horrible. I actually think I had more room at the Disney races I’ve done and that’s saying something. I feel bad for the people finishing behind me because the finish line got so much worse within five minutes after I crossed! I was also really glad my parents were along to help with the parking situation because I would have totally freaked out when I got there if I was alone!

I got to Hart Park with plenty of time to get my packet, use the port-o-potties (which were plentiful at least!) and stand around for a few pictures before the race began. It was crazy cold and I was really glad my mom + dad brought along some blankets so I could try to stay warm. I was so cold I even kept my puffy vest on at first which was dumb but whatever.

The first two miles were super crowded and I had to really weave and pop through people to try to get to a point I felt like I was running. I surprisingly felt really good and like I was keeping a great pace, except for all the crowds holding be back so I tried my best to get to some clearings so I could really run. At about the two mile point, we got to a neighborhood and that really helped ease the route crowding and I could finally run freely for another 1.5 miles.

I hit the three mile marker and thought, “Hey, just one more mile!” but within a half mile, I passed the four mile sign so then I was really confused. Also, by this time, I was carrying my vest, headband, gloves and phone… oops. I was sure a 7k was only four miles, even, and I guess I never looked that up to confirm it?! Also at this point we started running on a SUPER narrow path through the park so it got even worse before I could finish as far as crowding was concerned but I knew I had to be getting close so I just kept running.

Once I finally could see the finish line, I took off to try to get in close to 40 minutes which was my original goal, thinking that would equal 10min/mile pace and I thought I was already over that.  (Gun time 41 minutes or so) I missed a chance to grab my pup and bring him with me because I was way too much on a mission to finish

Once I finished I was super confused for awhile because I really felt like I ran faster than 10min/mile pace which is what it would have been had the course been the four miles I stupidly thought it was After a few minutes though, I realized it was really 4.3 miles, hence my confusion all race!

I was even more surprised to find I had finished in 38:57 or an 8:58 pace!?! No wonder it felt kind of challenging!! Either way I would have been happy with my finish time because I didn’t walk once which was my secondary goal, but considering I came in under 9 minute miles, I was really shocked by that finish time!

Pros/Cons of this race:

Pros
1. Start/Finish in the same spot
2. Free t-shirt, bandanna, beer + green “finisher” necklace
3. Short porto-potty lines!
4. Awesome volunteers directing traffic + lots of police helping with that
5. Fun distance!

Cons
1. WAY too crowded…
2. Poorly marked miles
3. Chaos at the finish line through the beer pickup, spread this OUT!
4. Cold But I don’t think that was under any race official’s control!

I do think the snow amounts negatively impacted the amount of space at the finish line and maybe even all along the course, also, it was likely way more people than they thought would join an inaugural race?! I guess before I sign up next year, I will make sure they either choose a different course or stagger walkers/runners/strollers. (I was passing walkers within 2 minutes) But all and all, it was a fun race that I would like to do again, provided more room on the course in future years.

To continue the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, I also made the best dinner EVER! Cottage Pie, Irish Soda Bread and Irish Salad. OMG so good!

I am excited for racing this year and really hope my slow + steady weekly running with an actual plan will help me a lot for my upcoming half marathons! Now if only Spring would appear so I can run in shorts and tanks…

Next race is a 10k at the end of April, unless I find another 5k to run before then

Monday Mileage Recap: Week 2

Two down, 16 to go! Can’t wait for warm weather! Just not too warm…ehem, Cellcom, ehem.

Here is how I worked it out last week to prepare to run a good 13.1 miles this summer:

Monday: 2 mile run + Yoga class led by Sister
Tuesday: Walk + Weight lifting!
Wednesday: 2 mile run + Yoga class by Sister
Thursday: Rest
Friday: Rest/Shovel
Saturday: 2 mile run + Body Pump DVD
Sunday: 3 mile run + Body Pump DVD

Total weekly mileage: 8.5!
Lifted: 3!
Yoga: 2!

It seemed like a pretty good week in training (which is good considering it’s just week two…). I was planning to not run + lift back-to-back days over the weekend but Friday’s plans got messed up because of more snow. Shocker.

It actually ended up being really nice weather over the weekend though so I was glad I waited out the blizzard Now if only the forecast for the snow tomorrow would be false, I could actually start believing Spring exists. And yet, 4-7″ more tomorrow. Gross. Why now, Wisconsin? Why? What was wrong with snow at Christmas and nothing now…

I miss the Florida sunshine…

 

Molasses.

I don’t know if it was just me but this week went super slow. Heck, this whole month has gone really slow… snow, cold, snow, cold, repeat.

Especially topical since my work is on weight watchers right now… If I had a $ for every time someone complained about what they “can’t eat”…

Anyways, here’s a random post to get me through to the WEEKEND!

1) I have done yoga twice this week. That’s right, TWICE! Sister started teaching somewhere new and brought me along to try it out. I’d like to say I’m re-addicted but all I can think about are my aching hamstrings and aching triceps. Yikes!

2) I have my February craft project on the horizon this weekend. I’m being a total tree-hugger/pinterest-reader and making reusable paper towels We shall see how this goes, I have not used a sewing machine in about 3 years so it could get interesting and I may do lots of yelling/cursing at said sewing machine.

Don’t they look so cute?

3) Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Boys II Men, 98 degrees and NKOTB. I really want to go to this concert but I don’t know if I am a fan enough to put up with it. Maybe the tickets will sell out super quickly and I won’t have a chance, or be $1,000.

How can you NOT want to see them in concert?

4) Winter Storm “Q” kind of messed up my run this morning. Not amused. Not amused.

5) I finally think I got my sister addicted to weight lifting! I’ve been trying for years and finally Body Pump was enough to get her hooked We both really, really like the at home workout DVD set. Best use of a gift card so far! I actually look forward to doing these DVDs which is a nice change of pace for workouts!

6) I used to love Downton Abbey so, so much. (*cryptic language ahead to avoid spoiling anything) But after this “season” my fondness is quickly running out. How many more people have to leave the show before it’s just over? It’s been a little too dramatic these past few episode… I’m just glad I read the spoilers online beforehand so I wasn’t surprised by any of it. Still so pissed over it though!

 

7) I am looking forward to an incredibly lazy weekend this weekend. I can’t wait!

Anything big on your agenda for the weekend?

The Groundhog is Messing with Me.

So… Groundhog’s Day was about 3 weeks ago. And we were promised Spring was right around the corner. Promised I tell you. And yet, he is not delivering. Sure, we get a tease here and there *coughMondaycough but then it’s back to Winter bitch slapping us in the face *coughTuesdaycough.

I’m so looking forward to Spring for these reason:

1) Time saving! I will be able to shave 20 minutes off my “time prep for a run – actually running”. No hat/gloves/coat/snowshoes/earmuffs to search for. No 15 layers of clothes to wiggle into.

So many layers…

2) Suntan lines! I can’t wait for that first spring run when I come back and can still see my tank top tan line. Those are the best!

Running in shorts sounds so foreign right now.

3) Daylight. I am starting to see little tiny peaks of sun in the mornings but I can’t wait for full blown sunshine to run in in the morning! Can’t wait!

4) My bike. I still have a love/hate relationship with The Bicycle but I really want to take it out on a ride… which I hear is hard to do if the trail is covered in snow. Bets are on if I can still ride it…

Still so shiny and new.

5) Racing again! It hasn’t been that long since my last race but I don’t feel like I’ve actually race, raced a race in a while (say that 3x fast). I have a few 5ks-10ks to look forward to this Spring and I can’t wait! I love finish lines

What are you most looking forward to about Spring?

Ruff Life.

I missed my calling to be a dog in this life. Sure, some dogs have it rough, but not this one. What I would give to trade places with him just one Monday

Here’s a typical day in his life…

4:30am. Someone’s phone is making so much noise. Could she be any ruder. Do I wake her up in the middle of a nap, no. I’ll just lay here in bed until she is busy doing something else and THEN I will decide I need to wake up and go outside. Serves her right for that obnoxious wake up call.

I woke up once… it was AWFUL!

4:45am: Finally I can go back to sleep but I just can’t seem to get comfortable. Still with the too much noise and too much light in my bedroom. I’ll go sleep in the hall. It’s quiet and dark there. Ahhhh, finally some more zzzzz…..

5:00am: WHAT?! someone else is trying to wake the dead and just took another year off my life. Why do these people in this house make SOMUCHNOISE! I make no noise, never. See how they treat me?

5:15am: Finally peacefully asleeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzz……..

6:00am: More noise. Great. What now? Wait! Is that breakfast I smell cooking? Ok, I guess I will permit that noise… wait a minute. You forgot to make two plates. What’s going on. Why does no one ever remember to make me breakfast. Grr. That’s OK, I’ll just cook some bacon while they are at work. hehehe

7:30-4:30pm: Sweet glorious sleep. Nap, nap, nap. Maybe I won’t even move a muscle today since I am so exhausted from the morning rukis.

4:45pm: Thing 2 waltzes in the door like she owns the place. Thanks for waking me up, AGAIN! Where is Thing 1? She’s my favorite, I need her! I’ll just watch for her out the window…

5:30pm: I’m not sure why but I get really excited to see my girls when they get home?!  Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Plus I know the cuter I am, the more likely they are to give me chicken. Live and learn, folks.

6:15pm: Finally feeling awake and ready to face the day now. TIMEFORMYWALK. I don’t understand why those two lazy lumps just sit there watching TV while I stand here by the door, totally ready to go on a walk. Maybe they need me to remind them what time it is. Ruuf! Walk! Moveitfatties!

Later!

6:30pm: OH FINALLY they decide to move and take me for my wander. Gosh I love spring. I hate those stupid coats they make me wear in the Winter. #claustrophobic  So.many.good.smells! Jeez these two weirdo-s are slow. I could totally lap them both. Move it!

6:45pm: So thirsty! and HUNGRY! Where’s my meal! Feed me! Starving… Wasting awaY! paw paw paw, grasping for sustenance…

Wasting… away…

7:00pm: Food! This food is kind of gross, especially the blue chunks. Seriously, food coloring in food? #notok Don’t they know I prefer clean eating?

Dirty!

7:15pm: Isn’t it time for bed now? I’m exhausted. This day was sobusy! I’ll take a nap on the couch/floor/mybed/diningroom/couch/chair/hallway/person. Just can’t get comfortable and again with the noise and the light! No consideration.

9:30pm: Finally it’s time for some real peace and quite! Can’t… keep… my… eyes…open……

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…….