After a week on the left coast, I am left wondering how anyone can sight see San Fran without running or having the ability to walk uphill for miles on end?
There are also definitely a lot more runners out there and it seems as though they are more health-conscious out there; saw a free outdoor gym on the path to the Golden Gate Bridge.
While sprinting to our flight and missing it by a minute, all I could muster up to ask was "I wonder what our pace was?" My sister shot back with "of course you would ask that".
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Spring Semester over
As I return to Texas for my annual need of live music, friends, family, and food, I have tried to keep up with running as well. Per usual, I enjoy Plano's 1:1 ratio of miles on the trail to water fountains. With bathrooms to boot. Unfortunately, I am either finally noticing my back feels off or the pavement here is much different. And as always, the air just isn't as crisp here and the faucet water smells. Home sweet home.
Before coming down, I got to enjoy a nice hill workout with Pat and Lauren in Boston where I have now toyed with the idea of sending it up to Boston at the end of the year. Who knows?
Before coming down, I got to enjoy a nice hill workout with Pat and Lauren in Boston where I have now toyed with the idea of sending it up to Boston at the end of the year. Who knows?
Sunday, May 12, 2013
"off season"
Post half marathon, I have taken whether consciously or not, a week off from running 30 miles and working out to go out and socialize and rest (my inner leg muscles aka groin is still sore). It's that time of the year when it is the end of the "school" year aka my trip back to Texas. Miles run will come by sporadically at best but when I return, I'm gonna try to get faster for a 5k in the near future.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Navigant Running Festival Half Marathon
Pre-race:
I have worked it out that it is not the night before the race that is important but two nights before that is big. Sleep: 8 hours. This after going out during an uncharacteristic Tang week.
The day before the race was packet pick up at Rhode Runner (which I feel like they usually notify runners at least 48 hrs before--I think I got a days notice). When I say packet pick up, that is a loose term as this was a no frills packet, which I totally support. I decided to jog 2 miles over to pick it up and did not realize that the packet, excuse me 'packet', would be in a tiny black bag.
Aaron, why would you mention such a trivial thing like that? This detail should not be of any concern in say, most of America. However, I would be traversing back through Downtown Providence. With a black bag.
Anyways, I walked back, inhaled salmon, squash, rice, and a whole box of pasta. Yea, a whole box.
Sleep: 4 hrs despite being physically in bed at 9 pm, followed by a 4 am phone call from a Texas number; thanks a lot.
Commandments/ Running Sins committed:
Thou shall hydrate
Thou shall rest
Thou shall not use gear that you did not don whilst training
6:15 am:
PB and banana sandwiches, 3 trips to the John, and we were off.
The Race itself:
Parked at the Apex (still a mystery to me what that is) in Pawtucket. I had not even realized I was sans TP belt, but after walking to the restrooms with Jess, found out I also had on my Faux Ban wayfarer sunglasses that I use for driving and being a general poseur.
Good news is we used the restrooms in the ... civic center? so there was no need for a TP belt. Either way it was not a portapotty. And as for the sunglasses, that proved to be fortunate as it was pretty sunny today and they didn't slip down my nose too much.
Jess, Knapp, and I felt that this would not really be a PR day since our training had been hindered by Mother Nature during this seemingly perma-winter.
Knapp spotted the only pacer with a stick that had 1:45 written on it--perfect, the time I wanted to get. Knapp had the right idea, follow the pacer for the beginning since we have been known to go out quickly. Let's just follow it for 13.1 miles and see how we feel.
As this was our third go around on this rodeo, we knew we were lining up the wrong way at the starting line. There was a 40 second moment of silence which some of the more chatty runners didn't even realize. How you do not notice 1,000 people around you all going silent at once with a couple runners shushing you is beyond me.
This time around, I sported my iPod with my 1:45 playlist (technically 1:44:50, but who's counting?) with the addition of Coldplay's "Clocks" to calm myself for the beginning. The race started with no bobbing and weaving thanks to the perfect amount of runners after hitting start on our watches.
We ran around a loop before returning to the start for our first half mile with Knapp ahead of me. After the 5k in March, I decided that my game plan was to run even for the first 10 miles. For the first 3 miles or so, we stayed in the 1:45 pack, content on listening to the pacer speak about hitting 7:30s, 7:45s for the beginning, 8's throughout, then 8:15s at the end along with a marathon next week along with asking a volunteer who was pointing out the way if that indeed was the right way.
Our history with this course allowed me to feel comfortable while passing familiar businesses, parks, and houses. This however was home court advantage for Knapp as we closed in on his neighborhood.
I knew we had to negotiate our way through hills in the middle of this race so mentally I was waiting for a gargantuan climb. My memory did not serve me correctly since the hills on the road were not as bad as I thought. What must have truly helped was the fact today was between 46 and 52 degrees whereas last year seemed to be in the 70s. Oh yeah, and that dang black cotton shirt I wore that had to be tossed at Sri and Nikki at the half way point.
Knapp and I traded the lead throughout and as we came to the hills in his neck of the woods, I knew I had entered his home turf along with the fact we were on hills. Somewhere in here, there was a water station that flip flopped cups; they put water in the Gatorade cups and vice versa. Always have to pay attention or if you're like the runner behind me, yell at the volunteers.
We hit the all too familiar bike path still on pace and as I tried to pull ahead on every downhill, Knapp came roaring back. We hit the halfway point and I had decided that that was the time to reach in to my memory banks and pretend like this was the last 10k during the Philly Marathon.
This is where I believe we have evolved. This wasn't a "Without Limits" flashback, this was from my own experiences. I realize now why I don't get myself pumped up as much as I did in the beginning with Pre and Kara Goucher videos. Imitation was the only thing I had to draw from, like kids pretending to be MJ in the drive way.
As I started to encroach in the 7:30-7:45/mile pace, I began picking runners to run to, 'draft', and pass. I had no idea honestly if this was a good move but the idea for today was go for 1:45 or go broke.
I had picked up a Runner's World tip on water cups a couple weeks before that went without a hitch save for the one I fumbled at around mile 10. Basically, squeeze and hook your index finger in to make the cup more narrow and manageable.
It was around this time that I slowly chewed on some honey as well. That would later get my pocket sticky since I forgot a half-opened packet was still around.
I kept chugging along waiting for either myself to implode, Knapp to catch me and pass me a la the last race, or for me to drop a finishing kick during the last 5k. Instead, I hummed along and tried to take out both of our finishing kicks.
Crossing a bridge before hitting Mickey D's, I kept pushing to pass runners.
Somewhere in here I went back and forth with a couple runners on what I always equate to a real life Banshee Boardwalk from Mario Kart 64.
At mile 11, I calculated that I could run 10 minute miles and still be on goal. From mile 11 to 12, I hovered around a Camelbak runner then passed him before hitting the shaded area that I so desperately needed last year. Coming up to the last mile I broke the gloves out again and tried to hold on for dear life even if I was trying to trick my body in to thinking it was finishing kick time. I fell off pace back to 7:40 until the last 0.1 mile.
No lie, I had in my paranoid mind that Knapp was right behind me the whole time and waiting to kick at the end.
The Knapp clan saw me as I turned on the after burners to "Dude" a spent girl right at the end (the opposite of getting "chicked"). All I could think of was how pale my quads had become as the sprint shifted my shorts higher and I beat her by the slimmest of margins.
Unofficially 1:40:46 with only a slight gag reflex. Odd, since I hydrated poorly. I returned to cheer on Knapp as he was going to crush 1:45 as well. As the Knapps and I talked about the race, we thought we had missed Jess finish so we went on our way to the usual post-Pawtucket half dining experience, the Modern Diner.
Modern Diner with the Knapps was a nice way to celebrate after another 2 runners go sub 1:45, excuse me, destroy 1:45.
Maple Bacon Cornmeal Pancakes, seating arrangements and the lack of fruit in the meals was a nice way to prep for my Texas trip in two weeks.
Cinco de Mayo post race? Sounds tougher than the race itself.
Notes/ The Future:
Part of the packet included a wristband that had "Rhode Island runs for Boston". I thought that was a nice touch and wore it. At some point during the race, I looked down at it and consciously picked up the pace in support.
Tangents were run as best as I could. I had 13.12 miles on my watch.
As we can now cross off sub 1:45 its on to sub 20 5k then...retire?
Do I sport the wayfarers from now on during races?
Since my splits were pretty even, of course my dependable GPS watch freezes.
I have worked it out that it is not the night before the race that is important but two nights before that is big. Sleep: 8 hours. This after going out during an uncharacteristic Tang week.
The day before the race was packet pick up at Rhode Runner (which I feel like they usually notify runners at least 48 hrs before--I think I got a days notice). When I say packet pick up, that is a loose term as this was a no frills packet, which I totally support. I decided to jog 2 miles over to pick it up and did not realize that the packet, excuse me 'packet', would be in a tiny black bag.
Aaron, why would you mention such a trivial thing like that? This detail should not be of any concern in say, most of America. However, I would be traversing back through Downtown Providence. With a black bag.
Anyways, I walked back, inhaled salmon, squash, rice, and a whole box of pasta. Yea, a whole box.
Sleep: 4 hrs despite being physically in bed at 9 pm, followed by a 4 am phone call from a Texas number; thanks a lot.
Commandments/ Running Sins committed:
Thou shall hydrate
Thou shall rest
Thou shall not use gear that you did not don whilst training
6:15 am:
PB and banana sandwiches, 3 trips to the John, and we were off.
The Race itself:
Parked at the Apex (still a mystery to me what that is) in Pawtucket. I had not even realized I was sans TP belt, but after walking to the restrooms with Jess, found out I also had on my Faux Ban wayfarer sunglasses that I use for driving and being a general poseur.
Good news is we used the restrooms in the ... civic center? so there was no need for a TP belt. Either way it was not a portapotty. And as for the sunglasses, that proved to be fortunate as it was pretty sunny today and they didn't slip down my nose too much.
Jess, Knapp, and I felt that this would not really be a PR day since our training had been hindered by Mother Nature during this seemingly perma-winter.
Knapp spotted the only pacer with a stick that had 1:45 written on it--perfect, the time I wanted to get. Knapp had the right idea, follow the pacer for the beginning since we have been known to go out quickly. Let's just follow it for 13.1 miles and see how we feel.
As this was our third go around on this rodeo, we knew we were lining up the wrong way at the starting line. There was a 40 second moment of silence which some of the more chatty runners didn't even realize. How you do not notice 1,000 people around you all going silent at once with a couple runners shushing you is beyond me.
This time around, I sported my iPod with my 1:45 playlist (technically 1:44:50, but who's counting?) with the addition of Coldplay's "Clocks" to calm myself for the beginning. The race started with no bobbing and weaving thanks to the perfect amount of runners after hitting start on our watches.
We ran around a loop before returning to the start for our first half mile with Knapp ahead of me. After the 5k in March, I decided that my game plan was to run even for the first 10 miles. For the first 3 miles or so, we stayed in the 1:45 pack, content on listening to the pacer speak about hitting 7:30s, 7:45s for the beginning, 8's throughout, then 8:15s at the end along with a marathon next week along with asking a volunteer who was pointing out the way if that indeed was the right way.
Our history with this course allowed me to feel comfortable while passing familiar businesses, parks, and houses. This however was home court advantage for Knapp as we closed in on his neighborhood.
I knew we had to negotiate our way through hills in the middle of this race so mentally I was waiting for a gargantuan climb. My memory did not serve me correctly since the hills on the road were not as bad as I thought. What must have truly helped was the fact today was between 46 and 52 degrees whereas last year seemed to be in the 70s. Oh yeah, and that dang black cotton shirt I wore that had to be tossed at Sri and Nikki at the half way point.
Knapp and I traded the lead throughout and as we came to the hills in his neck of the woods, I knew I had entered his home turf along with the fact we were on hills. Somewhere in here, there was a water station that flip flopped cups; they put water in the Gatorade cups and vice versa. Always have to pay attention or if you're like the runner behind me, yell at the volunteers.
We hit the all too familiar bike path still on pace and as I tried to pull ahead on every downhill, Knapp came roaring back. We hit the halfway point and I had decided that that was the time to reach in to my memory banks and pretend like this was the last 10k during the Philly Marathon.
This is where I believe we have evolved. This wasn't a "Without Limits" flashback, this was from my own experiences. I realize now why I don't get myself pumped up as much as I did in the beginning with Pre and Kara Goucher videos. Imitation was the only thing I had to draw from, like kids pretending to be MJ in the drive way.
As I started to encroach in the 7:30-7:45/mile pace, I began picking runners to run to, 'draft', and pass. I had no idea honestly if this was a good move but the idea for today was go for 1:45 or go broke.
I had picked up a Runner's World tip on water cups a couple weeks before that went without a hitch save for the one I fumbled at around mile 10. Basically, squeeze and hook your index finger in to make the cup more narrow and manageable.
It was around this time that I slowly chewed on some honey as well. That would later get my pocket sticky since I forgot a half-opened packet was still around.
I kept chugging along waiting for either myself to implode, Knapp to catch me and pass me a la the last race, or for me to drop a finishing kick during the last 5k. Instead, I hummed along and tried to take out both of our finishing kicks.
Crossing a bridge before hitting Mickey D's, I kept pushing to pass runners.
Somewhere in here I went back and forth with a couple runners on what I always equate to a real life Banshee Boardwalk from Mario Kart 64.
At mile 11, I calculated that I could run 10 minute miles and still be on goal. From mile 11 to 12, I hovered around a Camelbak runner then passed him before hitting the shaded area that I so desperately needed last year. Coming up to the last mile I broke the gloves out again and tried to hold on for dear life even if I was trying to trick my body in to thinking it was finishing kick time. I fell off pace back to 7:40 until the last 0.1 mile.
No lie, I had in my paranoid mind that Knapp was right behind me the whole time and waiting to kick at the end.
The Knapp clan saw me as I turned on the after burners to "Dude" a spent girl right at the end (the opposite of getting "chicked"). All I could think of was how pale my quads had become as the sprint shifted my shorts higher and I beat her by the slimmest of margins.
Unofficially 1:40:46 with only a slight gag reflex. Odd, since I hydrated poorly. I returned to cheer on Knapp as he was going to crush 1:45 as well. As the Knapps and I talked about the race, we thought we had missed Jess finish so we went on our way to the usual post-Pawtucket half dining experience, the Modern Diner.
Modern Diner with the Knapps was a nice way to celebrate after another 2 runners go sub 1:45, excuse me, destroy 1:45.
Maple Bacon Cornmeal Pancakes, seating arrangements and the lack of fruit in the meals was a nice way to prep for my Texas trip in two weeks.
Cinco de Mayo post race? Sounds tougher than the race itself.
Notes/ The Future:
Part of the packet included a wristband that had "Rhode Island runs for Boston". I thought that was a nice touch and wore it. At some point during the race, I looked down at it and consciously picked up the pace in support.
Tangents were run as best as I could. I had 13.12 miles on my watch.
As we can now cross off sub 1:45 its on to sub 20 5k then...retire?
Do I sport the wayfarers from now on during races?
Since my splits were pretty even, of course my dependable GPS watch freezes.
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