So yeah...I finished my half today in 1:52:10! My tentative goals were to: 1. run sub-1:50, 2. beat my time from last year's Columbus half (1:55:42), and 3. Beat J's friend B, who was running his first half on very little training. While I didn't break 1:50 (this was an extremely lofty goal for me, and I knew full well my chances of doing it were slim), I did PR, and sort of beat B so I can't complain. By "sort of", I mean that while I crossed the finish line before he did (My clock time was 1:56 something and his was 1:57 something), his chip time (meaning time elapsed between crossing the start line and the finish line) was two minutes less than mine. He started after me (we were in two different corrals) which is why though he had the better time, I crossed the finish line first. I'll take what I can get, and so will my competitive streak! :)
All in all, though, I couldn't have asked for a better race. The weather was GLORIOUS (mid 40's at the start, clear and sunny by the end), the crowd support was great, the twinges I had been feeling in my knee since yesterday evening didn't slow me down, and I managed to see my parents and high five my dad right before I made the turn down the street to the finish line. Plus, I got to see my friend Emily finish (she was running her first half, and did AWESOME despite some knee issues and a line at the bathrooms), and was able to stop and talk to my friend Stevi and her hubby Chris (both did the Chicago Marathon last weekend and their training group worked at one of the water stops on the course today) on my way to my car. To quote Ice Cube, today was a good day :)
Right now, my legs feel pretty good-sore and stiff, but no more than I expected. I came home and had a lovely shower, pizza for lunch, and a nap...and now, life is glorious!
Next up on the race calendar is probably a Halloween weekend 5k, my usual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5 miler, maybe something between those two races, and probably an early December race-I've never done one in December and am trying to run a race in each month of the year so we'll see how that works out :)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
A week from now...
I will be happily eating my way through the house after finishing my 4th half marathon (at least, I hope I finish...barring any major mishaps I should at least finish :D). Wheeeeeeee! And WhereTF did the last three and a half months of training go?
Right now, I'm cautiously optimistic. Aside from a brief injury that was remedied with some rest and a new pair of running shoes and training during the hottest damn summer in recent years, my preparation for this race has gone pretty well. Well enough to break 1:50? That, I don't know but I'm sure as hell going to try!
Now, the question remains...what next? I always find me asking myself this as I prepare to run a big (for me) race and continue asking myself the same question after the race...and right now, I think I have a tentative plan. This winter, I'm going to make an effort to rededicate myself to some much needed strength training and broaden my crosstraining horizons some more. Meaning more swimming and biking (albeit indoors, because Midwest winters aren't particularly kind to bike riding). You guessed it kids...I'm thinking about training for a sprint triathlon next year. Which should be interesting seeing as I haven't done much swimming OR biking (aside from spin classes and the odd post-bar close pool crashing) in a long, long, LONG time. Neither one is particularly scary to me, I just haven't been motivated to do it. Plus, the gear can be expensive so I'll be doing some price comparing and shopping around.
In addition, it's time for me to really crack down on the amount that I've been indulging my cravings for sweets/fatty foods/fried food/salty food/cheesy stuff/all of the above. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about not depriving yourself and not feeling guilty for eating food you enjoy-but I've been doing that a little too much, and it's showing. Meaning, my gut is showing. So it's time to lay the smackdown, so to speak. More planning meals (and cooking them) at home, and less eating out...and all the fun stuff that goes along with it.
In non-running/fitness news...fall is here at last! Pumpkins, trees changing colors, glorious cool mornings and evenings (though they haven't been as much here in the last few days, we're having a heat wave), and getting out Georgie's pink sweater.
Yes, you heard that right. My dog wears a sweater. A pink one. When she's on the loveseat shivering, it's sweater time. I don't have any pictures right now, but let me tell you she's damn cute and she LOVES that thing. She loves her coat too, but she only gets to wear that in the winter :)
Plus, it's college football season which always makes life just a teeny bit happier in my household. Okay, it makes J a teeny bit happier, which makes my life easier. Win all around!
Okay, one more running-related item...a big fat CONGRATULATIONS to my sister Alli, my friend Stevi, and all my other friends and everyone else who finished the Chicago Marathon today in unseasonably warm temperatures! You guys kick ass and I'm so proud of all of you :)
Right now, I'm cautiously optimistic. Aside from a brief injury that was remedied with some rest and a new pair of running shoes and training during the hottest damn summer in recent years, my preparation for this race has gone pretty well. Well enough to break 1:50? That, I don't know but I'm sure as hell going to try!
Now, the question remains...what next? I always find me asking myself this as I prepare to run a big (for me) race and continue asking myself the same question after the race...and right now, I think I have a tentative plan. This winter, I'm going to make an effort to rededicate myself to some much needed strength training and broaden my crosstraining horizons some more. Meaning more swimming and biking (albeit indoors, because Midwest winters aren't particularly kind to bike riding). You guessed it kids...I'm thinking about training for a sprint triathlon next year. Which should be interesting seeing as I haven't done much swimming OR biking (aside from spin classes and the odd post-bar close pool crashing) in a long, long, LONG time. Neither one is particularly scary to me, I just haven't been motivated to do it. Plus, the gear can be expensive so I'll be doing some price comparing and shopping around.
In addition, it's time for me to really crack down on the amount that I've been indulging my cravings for sweets/fatty foods/fried food/salty food/cheesy stuff/all of the above. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about not depriving yourself and not feeling guilty for eating food you enjoy-but I've been doing that a little too much, and it's showing. Meaning, my gut is showing. So it's time to lay the smackdown, so to speak. More planning meals (and cooking them) at home, and less eating out...and all the fun stuff that goes along with it.
In non-running/fitness news...fall is here at last! Pumpkins, trees changing colors, glorious cool mornings and evenings (though they haven't been as much here in the last few days, we're having a heat wave), and getting out Georgie's pink sweater.
Yes, you heard that right. My dog wears a sweater. A pink one. When she's on the loveseat shivering, it's sweater time. I don't have any pictures right now, but let me tell you she's damn cute and she LOVES that thing. She loves her coat too, but she only gets to wear that in the winter :)
Plus, it's college football season which always makes life just a teeny bit happier in my household. Okay, it makes J a teeny bit happier, which makes my life easier. Win all around!
Okay, one more running-related item...a big fat CONGRATULATIONS to my sister Alli, my friend Stevi, and all my other friends and everyone else who finished the Chicago Marathon today in unseasonably warm temperatures! You guys kick ass and I'm so proud of all of you :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)