What: Five Trails Half Marathon
Where: Leavenworth, KS
When: May 15, 2011
Alrighty folks, I finally did my goal race for this year, and RAWKED IT. I also smashed my previous PR of 2:09 (set in December 2009 at Palm Beach), burned it, and stomped it into the ground. My new personal best is now 1:59:14.
I will rewind all the way back to last Friday to set the stage for this key race. Friday afternoon, DH and I took off for Kansas City, MO, to take part in the Fitness Summit www.thefitnesssummit.com. It was a small conference covering topics pertinent to fitness enthusiasts & professionals: nutrition, recovery and of course, training. It lasted into Saturday, and it was such an amazing experience. I learned so much about training smarter, and found physical therapy resources that I hope to incorporate with my mom and her current condition. It was also terrific to meet with people who are just as excited (probably more, actually) about being fit and healthy. It was simply nice to be with those who "get me." Some of you will know what phenomena I am referring to. Whenever fitness enthusiasts (runners included) share tidbits about our training, or sit down to a meal with family/friends/co-workers, it seems that our choices are sometimes maligned. We're seen as "too rigid" and "obsessed" with eating right, and aren't we over-exercising ourselves into a tizzy? By working out a few times a week? It was simply great being able to discuss my fitness interests without getting raised eyebrows and silly judgment calls.
Sorry for the digression, and back to the race. Got up Sunday morning a little before 6AM to get changed, and fuel up with black coffee and sugar, and a cinnamon raisin bagel with natural peanut butter. The java's really important, as it guarantees I don't remain klutzy. We arrived at the race location within 15 minutes (we live very close to the area, so it was a breeze getting to the start/finish).
As for the race itself, it isn't a trail one, as it implies. It is purely road. However, it's backed by the Leavenworth County Historical Society, and the name refers to the five trails pioneers took during the US's westward expansion of the mid to late 1800s. The course is hilly, about 815 ft. in elevation gain. The nastiest part starts around mile 2.5, and lasts for nearly another mile... Though strangely, that didn't get to me today. It was the rolling elevation towards the end that irked me. I used the downhill portions to my advantage and revved up whenever I was on them. However, I've also developed a good running pattern to help me cope with the uphills, and I ran them with gusto, much more than in any other hilly race that I've done.
The race experience went fast. I felt like I had constant momentum. I was also in a giddy mood. I think the positive energy from the Fitness Summit really rubbed off on me. I just kept on yelling out to the race volunteers "Thank you!!" because I truly appreciated them coming out on a chilly (well, it was 48F chilly), overcast Sunday morning to make sure we racers had support. I will have to be a race volunteer one of these days myself, because it was fun being happy & enthused during a race for once!
Other notes: Five Trails is very no-frills. They didn't even have ankle-band timing. Timing was done the old-fashioned way: recording bib numbers as we crossed the finish line! There was probably in all only 400 participants, which was great. It meant less people to contend with on the course. But this race was so together in its organization. It started without a hitch, parking was easy, and the course had more than adequate water/Gatorade stops. Fun, fun, fun.
So I am now a runner who has accomplished her goal of doing a sub-2 hour half. I am incredibly thrilled to see that my somewhat-obsessive training finally paid off! I did it!!!!
Showing posts with label half marathon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label half marathon. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Sunday, December 12, 2010
A 2-Hr (or less) Half, Here I Come!!!
Let me preface this post with a mini-ramble of how training for Marathon #2 (Palm Beach Marathon 2010) went. Basically, most of it sucked. I felt tired a lot, got sick around key workout times, and essentially felt stale about the whole affair. I'd get occasional flashes of potential and awesomeness on certain runs (e.g., running an 8:35 split on the last mile of a 20 mile training run - how the fuck did THAT come about?), but that was all. Not a lot of meaty substance, but plenty of malaise to go around.
So while I felt adequately prepped going into Palm Beach, I knew that it would be very unlikely I'd reach my goal time of 4:30. I just didn't have the strength and endurance to hack it. But I still set a new PR by 9 minutes. That was extremely comforting for me. However, it also confirmed that I need to rejigger the way I approach training, not to mention that busting out of my comfort zone has to happen in order for me to meet my new ambitions.
Goal #1: I want to run a half-marathon in 2-flat or under
Goal #2: I want to run a full in 4:20 or under
Goal #3: I want to lose 5 lbs. (which will help me reach the first two goals, so actually, this should be the first thing on my plate, but weight loss is never a fun thing)
How will I attain these? I'm still fishing around for a good training program to follow, but I have a few things up my sleeve that will help me on this running journey of mine. I've been reading, and re-reading, Matt Fitzgerald's Run, and will continue to pay close attention to my body's messages, a point that he hammers home in his latest offering. On a more specific level, I also need to up the amount of weekly mileage. I peaked at 40 miles/week for this recent marathon training cycle, and that wasn't sufficient enough in my opinion. So instead of running for 40-50 minutes 3 days/week like I usually do, I'll extend my runs to 1 hour or more twice a week. THAT was really the culprit that led to my OK-but-not-that-great performance on December 5th; I paid too much attention to the LSD runs, but not enough to my tempo and recovery ones.
As for losing weight, the obvious answer is to eat less and move around a lot more. But that's easier said than done. ;) However, if I buckle down and set my mind to it, I'll do it. But as I said earlier, weight loss just isn't fun thinking or discussing.
So while I felt adequately prepped going into Palm Beach, I knew that it would be very unlikely I'd reach my goal time of 4:30. I just didn't have the strength and endurance to hack it. But I still set a new PR by 9 minutes. That was extremely comforting for me. However, it also confirmed that I need to rejigger the way I approach training, not to mention that busting out of my comfort zone has to happen in order for me to meet my new ambitions.
Goal #1: I want to run a half-marathon in 2-flat or under
Goal #2: I want to run a full in 4:20 or under
Goal #3: I want to lose 5 lbs. (which will help me reach the first two goals, so actually, this should be the first thing on my plate, but weight loss is never a fun thing)
How will I attain these? I'm still fishing around for a good training program to follow, but I have a few things up my sleeve that will help me on this running journey of mine. I've been reading, and re-reading, Matt Fitzgerald's Run, and will continue to pay close attention to my body's messages, a point that he hammers home in his latest offering. On a more specific level, I also need to up the amount of weekly mileage. I peaked at 40 miles/week for this recent marathon training cycle, and that wasn't sufficient enough in my opinion. So instead of running for 40-50 minutes 3 days/week like I usually do, I'll extend my runs to 1 hour or more twice a week. THAT was really the culprit that led to my OK-but-not-that-great performance on December 5th; I paid too much attention to the LSD runs, but not enough to my tempo and recovery ones.
As for losing weight, the obvious answer is to eat less and move around a lot more. But that's easier said than done. ;) However, if I buckle down and set my mind to it, I'll do it. But as I said earlier, weight loss just isn't fun thinking or discussing.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
I Just Love It When a Plan Comes Together
I rocked a half marathon this past Saturday. Ok, "rock" may be too strong a word, but when you're congested and in the throes of a wicked cold, anytime you exceed expectations, you can't help but feel a little good.
Yesterday morning, I did the inaugural Ft. Leavenworth CAC Half Marathon. I wasn't sure how I'd feel during the race, so I decided to just roll with it, and run according to feeling. If I had to be a slowpoke, I was down with that. If I was up to being brisk in pace, I'd go along with that, too. I wound up doing a mix of the two, and managed to pass three folks along the route! All in all, I crossed the finish line in 2:12.
Per (my) orders, I went to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival afterward to recover from that experience. A little beer and turkey legs are fabulous antidotes to a good outdoor run. ;-)
Yesterday morning, I did the inaugural Ft. Leavenworth CAC Half Marathon. I wasn't sure how I'd feel during the race, so I decided to just roll with it, and run according to feeling. If I had to be a slowpoke, I was down with that. If I was up to being brisk in pace, I'd go along with that, too. I wound up doing a mix of the two, and managed to pass three folks along the route! All in all, I crossed the finish line in 2:12.
Per (my) orders, I went to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival afterward to recover from that experience. A little beer and turkey legs are fabulous antidotes to a good outdoor run. ;-)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Training Update
2/9/10 - 5.31 mile run, 50:13
Warmed up by doing an easy mile, then the rest I ran comfortably "hard." Today is a shorter run (around 3 miles), and I may or may not do it as speedwork.
I've also decided that this Sunday's half marathon will be a training module, and not an opportunity to PR. It will also provide an experimental ground for using Galloway's run/walk method. And let me confess: while I realistically don't think I will set a new record here, I am still secretly, deep down inside, hoping that happens. But I won't hold my breath here, either.
Warmed up by doing an easy mile, then the rest I ran comfortably "hard." Today is a shorter run (around 3 miles), and I may or may not do it as speedwork.
I've also decided that this Sunday's half marathon will be a training module, and not an opportunity to PR. It will also provide an experimental ground for using Galloway's run/walk method. And let me confess: while I realistically don't think I will set a new record here, I am still secretly, deep down inside, hoping that happens. But I won't hold my breath here, either.