Where to start with this one...I was very excited to do this Marathon since I did it in 2009 and I really liked how small it was...I also won it in 2009 but my expectations this year were different but I still had a goal time in mind, that goal was flexible of course.
Jessica Wilson came with me as well as Gabe and Oscar, so it was a full house. Jessica is a really strong runner and also did the Ironman this year. We got to the hotel on Sat.
Hotel was horrible, and the woman at the front told us we can NOT smoke, which was sort of funny. She was really nice though. American Inn and Suites, not a good choice, but oh well it was only one night and it was cheap.
The place we ate was really good, it was the same place as 2009, Prime and Rib, I had Lobster Ravioli, yum! Weird name since there was no Prime Rib there, or maybe there was...
Either way main points about the race, where we stayed was nice due to how close the start was, so we just woke up really late 6:45am, which is the latest I've gotten up for a race and headed to the start at 8am.
Right from the start, well I'd say by mile 2 or 3 I knew my legs weren't feeling good. They simply felt flat, and we started out FAST. Under 7 min miles, and I knew deep down there was no way I was going to do that today with the way my legs felt. So by mile 6 or so I was still trying to push, and then by about mile 9 Jessica passed me after going to the bathroom and I just thought go go go. There was no way I could have kept up today, and I'm glad I didn't try I would have ended up walking. I didn't really feel fatigued otherwise, just my legs had no power or energy. I haven't felt that in a while...I guess Big Woods killed me after the Ironman. Either way I tried to keep a good pace and just keep moving. I ended up with a 3:28, which wasn't really all that bad...Jessican PR'd and won!! I was super happy for her =)
Gabe did the 10K and PR'd by 5 whole minutes, which was awesome too since he hasn't been running at all.
So all in all, it was a good experience, after the race I was super super sore actually the next day.
Another funny thing, we had to leave right away and didn't want to wait around for awards so we sorta stole our trophies...Oh yeah I got second place after Jessica =)
Key Takeaway: This course is very flat, but there is a huge stretch of gravel which is sorta tough. Some trail running on this race also.
Next up: Surf the Murf, should be interesting...
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Big Woods 1/2 Marathon 10/15/2011
The day started off nice a bit chilly in the 40's, but the weather was perfect for a run with clear skies!
This was my first official "race" after Ironman,so I didn't really have many expectations except to just enjoy myself and run on the pretty trails. Of course deep down I had goals of getting close to my 2009 time of 1:35, but tried not to put a whole lot of pressure on myself.
The run started off really well I felt pretty strong, but a bit winded at the start. I think I kept a pretty steady pace the whole time and actually felt strong the WHOLE way. Usually I remember feeling dead or just out of juice those last 3 miles, but this time I didn't once have that feeling which was great. I ran with a younger girl for a while who later ended up pacing me when she caught me the last mile, she was 16 years old! Amazing, first time half marathon, and she seemed so happy to pass me. All I told her was go get there girl up ahead, and she relied, I'll try...She ended up in 3rd place I think. So so cool to watch that. She tried to pace with me, but I could tell she was holding back because she'd never done a half marathon before. All I can say is, this girl is up and coming, just wait until she tries triathlon, watch out!!
I did twist my ankle at about mile 9, which was painful! I had to stop for a bit and shake it out, but I kept running on it and it was pretty sore after. Otherwise the trails were so pretty and I'm glad I was out there and at least felt strong even though my time didn't show it...
Total Time: 1:44 (7:57 pace) 8th woman, 1 min slower than last year, and PR here is 1:35.
Next up: Mason City Marathon in Iowa.
This was my first official "race" after Ironman,so I didn't really have many expectations except to just enjoy myself and run on the pretty trails. Of course deep down I had goals of getting close to my 2009 time of 1:35, but tried not to put a whole lot of pressure on myself.
The run started off really well I felt pretty strong, but a bit winded at the start. I think I kept a pretty steady pace the whole time and actually felt strong the WHOLE way. Usually I remember feeling dead or just out of juice those last 3 miles, but this time I didn't once have that feeling which was great. I ran with a younger girl for a while who later ended up pacing me when she caught me the last mile, she was 16 years old! Amazing, first time half marathon, and she seemed so happy to pass me. All I told her was go get there girl up ahead, and she relied, I'll try...She ended up in 3rd place I think. So so cool to watch that. She tried to pace with me, but I could tell she was holding back because she'd never done a half marathon before. All I can say is, this girl is up and coming, just wait until she tries triathlon, watch out!!
I did twist my ankle at about mile 9, which was painful! I had to stop for a bit and shake it out, but I kept running on it and it was pretty sore after. Otherwise the trails were so pretty and I'm glad I was out there and at least felt strong even though my time didn't show it...
Total Time: 1:44 (7:57 pace) 8th woman, 1 min slower than last year, and PR here is 1:35.
Next up: Mason City Marathon in Iowa.
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