this blogging thing that is.
Maybe I'll keep up at it this time. Maybe I won't.
So, since I last posted in July life has kept on moving.
M is growing, work keeps me insanely busy, and not a day goes by that I'm not grateful for the life I get to live.
I went through a rough period in early Fall right at the beginning of the school year. M was holding on to my fingers trying to stand up. I leaned over at a weird angle and ended up throwing out my back. Again.
So after sitting out Lead King Loop 25K this year I started running again. It took a while to get my mojo back. I also had a lot of thinking time to try and figure out how to keep running without the stupid nagging injuries rearing their ugly heads. My chiropractor suggested a more regular and preventative massage and adjustment schedule. He also suggested I consider switching shoes and use an A-Line insert, rather than rely solely on a stability shoe. Apparently the 'stability' shoe has been over correcting me for years. So, after visiting my LRS I settled on the Brooks Pure Cadence. While visiting with Brion at Independence Run and Hike he suggested I also try to run at a faster cadence to stay further up on my foot.
With all of these factors at work I think my running is getting better. It feels a lot easier to keep those pace runs where they should be now and I haven't been injured since September.
Unfortunately the lack of daylight and abundance of ice and cold has kept me on the treadmill for the majority of my running this Winter but I'm okay with it. It's better than not running at all.
Currently, I'm in the midst of training for the Colfax Marathon. I think I signed up for it in November and since then it's been full steam ahead. Training is going well although I had to change up my schedule a bit after this past week. I started the Spring season of Girls on the Run and it just took a little bit more of my 'plate' than I thought it would. I'm cutting back my weekly mileage a little bit and realigning my easy days with my practice days so I can do double duty. I'm still happy with the 'new' plan.
I'm also working on a little project for next Fall but it's still in its infant stages and I'm not ready to share yet but I'm super excited about the possibilities!
Definitely planning on a couple of other races next Fall that will keep me busy through the Summer. I'll be running the Lead King Loop 25K and the Denver Marathon.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
With all of this fun, who has time for running?!
Hmmm. I had the grand idea that I was going to aim for my first post-preggo marathon this fall. That means I need to start training in mid-July. That means I should be building my base mileage. That's not happening.
The first reason this isn't happening is because I've had this niggling pain in the second toe of my right foot. Seriously. Why does something so little hurt so bad? I thought I might have broke it. It was a little swollen but not bruised. This leads me to believe it might be some type of ligament pain from a pair of flip flops I had been wearing a lot. So I gave the toe some rest and switched out the shoes. It's better but not 100%.
The second reason my running has been placed on the back burner is because we've been traveling a lot. We spent two days in the car driving to Minnesota to visit Bret's family. M finally got to meet her great-grandma, her great-aunt and uncle, and her cousins. We also celebrated grandma's 90th birthday while we were there. It was a good time for sure! Lots of fishing, playing in the lake, biking, and a little bit of running. We then spent another two days in the car on the ride back to Colorado.
So now we're gearing up for another trip - just me and M this time. I'm hoping to keep up with some type of mileage while we're gone. Also planning on doing a 5K in Ohio while we visit Nana. I hope the weather decides to cooperate while we're in the Midwest but I think I need to lose the 'rose colored glasses'! My goal for the next two weeks is to hit between 25-30. Here's hoping!
The first reason this isn't happening is because I've had this niggling pain in the second toe of my right foot. Seriously. Why does something so little hurt so bad? I thought I might have broke it. It was a little swollen but not bruised. This leads me to believe it might be some type of ligament pain from a pair of flip flops I had been wearing a lot. So I gave the toe some rest and switched out the shoes. It's better but not 100%.
The second reason my running has been placed on the back burner is because we've been traveling a lot. We spent two days in the car driving to Minnesota to visit Bret's family. M finally got to meet her great-grandma, her great-aunt and uncle, and her cousins. We also celebrated grandma's 90th birthday while we were there. It was a good time for sure! Lots of fishing, playing in the lake, biking, and a little bit of running. We then spent another two days in the car on the ride back to Colorado.
So now we're gearing up for another trip - just me and M this time. I'm hoping to keep up with some type of mileage while we're gone. Also planning on doing a 5K in Ohio while we visit Nana. I hope the weather decides to cooperate while we're in the Midwest but I think I need to lose the 'rose colored glasses'! My goal for the next two weeks is to hit between 25-30. Here's hoping!
Friday, June 15, 2012
I'm Baaacckk!
I'm sure I wasn't terribly missed in the world of blogging because, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who reads my own drivel. I took a REALLY long hiatus from running and writing about it since becoming a mother! Ten days after my last post on January 1, 2011 I found out that I was pregnant and expecting our long awaited first child!
Fast forward about 18 months and I'm finally getting a piece of normal back in to my life!
Here's the Cliff's Notes version of the past year and a half...
January 11, 2011 - Found out that Baby SimonSaysRun would be joining our family some time in mid-September.
January 16, 2011 - I ran the P.F. Chang's Rock n' Roll 1/2 Marathon in Phoenix when I was 5 weeks pregnant. I had been training towards running a PR, however, after consulting with my OB about it I decided to be very conservative while running the race. I opted to complete the race doing a 3/2 run:walk ratio. It worked out well. I enjoyed a beautiful day with a friend on the course.
February - April 2011 - Not much running happening here. I just didn't feel like it because I was so tired. All. of. the. time. It takes a lot of work to grow a baby! I did continue running during GOTR practices and even then I was still doing a lot of run:walk.
May 2011 - I ran the Mother's Day Mile to celebrate BabySSR - no idea what my time was, but it was fun!
June - August 2011 - I continued to run as much as I could through the summer. I think I averaged something like 15 miles per week.
July 23, 2011 - I ran a 5K at 32 weeks pregnant. I sure did get lots of looks!
September 10, 2011 - I ran 3 miles. Less than 24 hours later...
September 11, 2011, 7:23 p.m. - Baby Girls SimonSaysRun made her grand entrance in to the world!!!
September - December 2011 - I made my way through the days in a fog. There was some running in there, sort of regularly, but not really. Baby SSR ran her first race with Mommy at 5 Weeks. We ran a 5K in 30:09.
Since then I've been trying to balance motherhood, work, being a wife, and finding some time for myself. I've been averaging 20-25 miles per week for a few months now and I'm feeling really good about where I am. Gaining a little speed and ready to actually work on gaining more speed now. I've done a couple of races since then and have a few planned through the rest of the year. Here's what that looks like...
April 29, 2012, Cherry Creek Sneak, 5 Mile: 41.53
May 5, 2012, Girls on the Run, 5K: no idea
May 12, 2012, Titan Trot, 5K: 25:13 (oddly enough that was my exactt time 2 years ago)
June 2, 2012, Mountain to Valley, 10 Mile: 1:21:28
June 9, 2012, Durango Steamworks Half, Half Marathon: 1:56:06
Upcoming Races...
July 14, 2012, Kerstetter Memorial 5K
August 4, 2012, Cheatin' Woodchuck Chase 5M
September 16, 2012, Lead King Loop 25K
October 21, 12, The Other Half
November 10, 2012, Rim Rock Marathon
So, I think that's enough for now. I will definitely go back and fill in the pieces - you'll get to hear all about BabySSR, the training plans I have, and a couple of race reports. But you'll have to wait - I have some poopy diapers to attend to right now.
Happy Running!
Fast forward about 18 months and I'm finally getting a piece of normal back in to my life!
Here's the Cliff's Notes version of the past year and a half...
January 11, 2011 - Found out that Baby SimonSaysRun would be joining our family some time in mid-September.
January 16, 2011 - I ran the P.F. Chang's Rock n' Roll 1/2 Marathon in Phoenix when I was 5 weeks pregnant. I had been training towards running a PR, however, after consulting with my OB about it I decided to be very conservative while running the race. I opted to complete the race doing a 3/2 run:walk ratio. It worked out well. I enjoyed a beautiful day with a friend on the course.
February - April 2011 - Not much running happening here. I just didn't feel like it because I was so tired. All. of. the. time. It takes a lot of work to grow a baby! I did continue running during GOTR practices and even then I was still doing a lot of run:walk.
May 2011 - I ran the Mother's Day Mile to celebrate BabySSR - no idea what my time was, but it was fun!
June - August 2011 - I continued to run as much as I could through the summer. I think I averaged something like 15 miles per week.
July 23, 2011 - I ran a 5K at 32 weeks pregnant. I sure did get lots of looks!
September 10, 2011 - I ran 3 miles. Less than 24 hours later...
September 11, 2011, 7:23 p.m. - Baby Girls SimonSaysRun made her grand entrance in to the world!!!
September - December 2011 - I made my way through the days in a fog. There was some running in there, sort of regularly, but not really. Baby SSR ran her first race with Mommy at 5 Weeks. We ran a 5K in 30:09.
Since then I've been trying to balance motherhood, work, being a wife, and finding some time for myself. I've been averaging 20-25 miles per week for a few months now and I'm feeling really good about where I am. Gaining a little speed and ready to actually work on gaining more speed now. I've done a couple of races since then and have a few planned through the rest of the year. Here's what that looks like...
April 29, 2012, Cherry Creek Sneak, 5 Mile: 41.53
May 5, 2012, Girls on the Run, 5K: no idea
May 12, 2012, Titan Trot, 5K: 25:13 (oddly enough that was my exactt time 2 years ago)
June 2, 2012, Mountain to Valley, 10 Mile: 1:21:28
June 9, 2012, Durango Steamworks Half, Half Marathon: 1:56:06
Upcoming Races...
July 14, 2012, Kerstetter Memorial 5K
August 4, 2012, Cheatin' Woodchuck Chase 5M
September 16, 2012, Lead King Loop 25K
October 21, 12, The Other Half
November 10, 2012, Rim Rock Marathon
So, I think that's enough for now. I will definitely go back and fill in the pieces - you'll get to hear all about BabySSR, the training plans I have, and a couple of race reports. But you'll have to wait - I have some poopy diapers to attend to right now.
Happy Running!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2010: Year in Review
My running goals for 2010 were to streak - run at least one mile every day for the whole year, and run a 1:45:xx 1/2 marathon. Happy to say - mission accomplished!
I was able to run a total of 1203.28 miles for the year. Not quite the mileage I had last year (over 1400) but I also didn't train for any marathons. Last year I trained for two.
In June I had an unplanned trip to Ohio. While I was home there happened to be a 1/2 marathon that was a combination of trail and road. I thought I'd give it a shot even though I hadn't been training for a 1/2 marathon at all! Low and behold I was able to run it in 1:45:48. I know that altitude (or lack thereof) worked in my favor! Nonetheless - it's still a PR!
I also completed in my first triathlon. I think there'll be another tri in my future too!
At other race distances I came close to my PRs and ran some odd distance races which created automatic PRs as well. My favorite race this year was the Mackinac Island 8 Mile Run. I scanned the previous year's results and set my sights on placing high enough in my age group to receive an award. Good training resulted in a good race!
I'm also happy to say that I ran the whole year injury free! Woo hoo!
Looking ahead...I only have one race scheduled for 2011 so far. In 15 days I'll be running the P.F. Chang's Rock n' Roll 1/2 Marathon in Phoenix. After that I plan on building my base to prepare for a marathon in June. Not sure which marathon that will be - I have three on my radar right now!
My only goal for 2011 is to run a sub-4 marathon.
For now I'm continuing the streak - until I feel like I need a rest day or until I decide to get my next tattoo. I'm planning for one on my foot - which will require several rest days. We'll see what happens, but the streak is NOT a goal for 2011.
Although those plans could all change too! We'll see!
Happy Running in 2011!
I was able to run a total of 1203.28 miles for the year. Not quite the mileage I had last year (over 1400) but I also didn't train for any marathons. Last year I trained for two.
In June I had an unplanned trip to Ohio. While I was home there happened to be a 1/2 marathon that was a combination of trail and road. I thought I'd give it a shot even though I hadn't been training for a 1/2 marathon at all! Low and behold I was able to run it in 1:45:48. I know that altitude (or lack thereof) worked in my favor! Nonetheless - it's still a PR!
I also completed in my first triathlon. I think there'll be another tri in my future too!
At other race distances I came close to my PRs and ran some odd distance races which created automatic PRs as well. My favorite race this year was the Mackinac Island 8 Mile Run. I scanned the previous year's results and set my sights on placing high enough in my age group to receive an award. Good training resulted in a good race!
I'm also happy to say that I ran the whole year injury free! Woo hoo!
Looking ahead...I only have one race scheduled for 2011 so far. In 15 days I'll be running the P.F. Chang's Rock n' Roll 1/2 Marathon in Phoenix. After that I plan on building my base to prepare for a marathon in June. Not sure which marathon that will be - I have three on my radar right now!
My only goal for 2011 is to run a sub-4 marathon.
For now I'm continuing the streak - until I feel like I need a rest day or until I decide to get my next tattoo. I'm planning for one on my foot - which will require several rest days. We'll see what happens, but the streak is NOT a goal for 2011.
Although those plans could all change too! We'll see!
Happy Running in 2011!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Lead King Loop 25K, September 19, 2010, Marble CO
I figure, the best way to do this race justice is to share the photos I took during the race.
The climb up to the top.
A view on the way up.
Getting closer to the top.
Ahhh - finally done with that pesky hill climb!
Starting the descent.
Lead King Basin
The Crystal Mill
The climb up to the top.
A view on the way up.
Getting closer to the top.
Ahhh - finally done with that pesky hill climb!
Starting the descent.
Lead King Basin
The Crystal MillI decided to run this race on a whim. I ran the 12.5K a couple of years ago and have always planned on doing the 25K. I just didn't plan on doing it this year. With that being said - I signed up for the race the Friday before the race and I didn't do any type of training for this race. I've been focused on shorter distances recently and haven't done a run over 8 miles in over 3 months. Soooo....I didn't have great expectations, but as always, I did have some expectations of myself.
The race starts in the town of Marble and follows a 4x4 road through the Lead King Basin. The course gains 2900' in the first 4 miles on a very rugged road. It levels out around mile 5 and then drops sharply into the valley for the next few miles. The road follows the Crystal River past the old town site of Crystal where the 110 year old mill still stands. The last couple of miles rise out of the valley and descend back down toward the town.
Here is a course profile...
In addition to being unprepared for the 15.5 mile course I also was lacking in the sleep department due to a trip to Denver to visit with friends. Two nights of little rest didn't bode well on race day. I think my legs were also a little shot from last weekend's race as well. So, enough of the excuses - here's how it all went down.
Woke up super early on Sunday morning to make the hour and a half drive to Marble. The race is pretty small <200 people between the two races. I picked up my schwag-bag and got myself ready to race.
I decided to wear my trail shoes for a little added stability and was still trying to work out the kinks with my fuel belt until the starting bugle was blown. The belt was driving me nuts for the first mile - bouncing all over the place. I considered throwing the belt at an aid station but then I wouldn't have my camera or my Honey Stingers. I found out real quick that the belt was going to be the least of my concerns of the day. The belt only bounces when you're actually "running". The following three miles included a LOT of walking.
Holy heck - that hill was steep. After the incredible leg burning climb I was rewarded with some amazing views of the Aspen trees at their peak color! I could finally start running at about mile 5 when the road flattened out. It quickly started to descend to the valley below at a pretty sharp grade. Parts of the road were nicely packed dirt but for the most part there was a lot of loose rock. Considering I wasn't even halfway done with the race I didn't want to take any chances and go ass-over-teakettle down the hill so I took it nice and easy. I even walked some of the downhill.
Around mile 8 I started to realize just how fatigued I was getting. I just kept reminding myself to enjoy the view and to not get injured. I was also starting to feel sort of conflicted because running in the mountains is so idyllic and peaceful but also extremely mentally taxing at the same time. Having to be constantly aware of your footing takes its toll. By this time the temperature started creeping up too - it was over 80 degrees by the time I finished. I couldn't do anything at this point except move forward - no matter how slow I needed to move.
I made the final big climb out of the valley and started to head back towards Marble. All I could think about at this point was the delicious BBQ pork sandwich waiting for me at the finish!
I crossed the line in 3:38:20 - a 14:54/mile pace. I said that I had some expectations coming in to this race - approximately a 3:00:00 finish. Initially I was disappointed with my effort - but now, I'm over it. Trail running is a completely different beast than I was prepared to battle with yesterday but the beauty of our mountains was a much more valuable reward than any time could provide.
The race starts in the town of Marble and follows a 4x4 road through the Lead King Basin. The course gains 2900' in the first 4 miles on a very rugged road. It levels out around mile 5 and then drops sharply into the valley for the next few miles. The road follows the Crystal River past the old town site of Crystal where the 110 year old mill still stands. The last couple of miles rise out of the valley and descend back down toward the town.
Here is a course profile...
In addition to being unprepared for the 15.5 mile course I also was lacking in the sleep department due to a trip to Denver to visit with friends. Two nights of little rest didn't bode well on race day. I think my legs were also a little shot from last weekend's race as well. So, enough of the excuses - here's how it all went down.
Woke up super early on Sunday morning to make the hour and a half drive to Marble. The race is pretty small <200 people between the two races. I picked up my schwag-bag and got myself ready to race.
I decided to wear my trail shoes for a little added stability and was still trying to work out the kinks with my fuel belt until the starting bugle was blown. The belt was driving me nuts for the first mile - bouncing all over the place. I considered throwing the belt at an aid station but then I wouldn't have my camera or my Honey Stingers. I found out real quick that the belt was going to be the least of my concerns of the day. The belt only bounces when you're actually "running". The following three miles included a LOT of walking.
Holy heck - that hill was steep. After the incredible leg burning climb I was rewarded with some amazing views of the Aspen trees at their peak color! I could finally start running at about mile 5 when the road flattened out. It quickly started to descend to the valley below at a pretty sharp grade. Parts of the road were nicely packed dirt but for the most part there was a lot of loose rock. Considering I wasn't even halfway done with the race I didn't want to take any chances and go ass-over-teakettle down the hill so I took it nice and easy. I even walked some of the downhill.
Around mile 8 I started to realize just how fatigued I was getting. I just kept reminding myself to enjoy the view and to not get injured. I was also starting to feel sort of conflicted because running in the mountains is so idyllic and peaceful but also extremely mentally taxing at the same time. Having to be constantly aware of your footing takes its toll. By this time the temperature started creeping up too - it was over 80 degrees by the time I finished. I couldn't do anything at this point except move forward - no matter how slow I needed to move.
I made the final big climb out of the valley and started to head back towards Marble. All I could think about at this point was the delicious BBQ pork sandwich waiting for me at the finish!
I crossed the line in 3:38:20 - a 14:54/mile pace. I said that I had some expectations coming in to this race - approximately a 3:00:00 finish. Initially I was disappointed with my effort - but now, I'm over it. Trail running is a completely different beast than I was prepared to battle with yesterday but the beauty of our mountains was a much more valuable reward than any time could provide.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Mackinac Island Eight Mile Road Race - September 11, 2010
Mackinac Island Eight Mile Road Race
Mackinac Island, MI
September 11, 2010
I can’t remember when I first heard about this race but it’s been bouncing around in the back of my head for a couple of years. The timing isn’t great, since it’s tough to leave me class so early in the year but I decided that this was the year I needed to do it.
I arrived in Detroit on Thursday (after an incredibly long delay in Denver) at nearly 2:00 a.m. Not starting off so great. I finally get to the hotel and my mom and aunt decided to “surprise” me by being in my room. I guess “surprise” was one word for it - I was really looking forward to a good night sleep by myself, but oh well.
We hit the road to the U.P. in the late morning and arrived in the early evening. We headed to my favorite local restaurant - The Driftwood - for dinner. I tried to hit the hay early since I had less than 5 hours of sleep the night before. Sharing a room with two other people who don’t sleep well is not a good idea the night before a race.
So with two nights of little-to-no sleep I was just happy to get out of bed and get going. I started off my day with “the usual” breakfast and walked across the street to catch the 7:30 ferry over to the island.
After I arrived I had about 1/2 mile walk to the resort that was hosting the race - The Mission Point Resort. I grabbed some Starbucks and found my way to the resort to pick up my shirt and bib. At this point I realized I was facing a wardrobe dilemma. I thought it was going to be a bit cooler so I dressed accordingly - but the weather system was delayed in getting here and I realized I would be too hot running in my capris. I had a pair of shorts in my gear bag, however, my gear bag was back on the mainland with my mom who would be coming over later. Rather than be stressed about finding her and my shorts right before the race I decided I’d better buy something from the vendor at the packet pick up. Thank goodness they were there! I was able to get my “usual” Nike shorts for $20 - win-win!
I did a quick warm up and got ready to line up at the start. This race had about 1400 participants - in addition to the 8 mile run they also have an 8 mile walk. With this type of race and the number of participants - I think they should consider doing a wave start. I realized there were a lot of walkers lined up towards the front and decided that I needed to move up even farther to avoid the inevitable traffic jam.
The official “Go!” was shouted and we were off.
My goals for this race were...
Enjoy the scenery!
Stay within an 8:05-8:15 pace in order to finish between 1:04 and 1:08
Enjoy the scenery!
Of course I had my Pixie-Dust dream too of running UNDER 1:04 and run fast enough to be in the Top 5 of my AG. After looking at last year’s race results there was a huge discrepancy between 5th and 6th. I knew if I ran my 8:05 I would land smack dab between last year’s 5th and 6th grade time.
Mile 1 took us right through Main Street on the Island past all of the fudge shops and souvenir stores towards the residential area of the island. The weather couldn’t have been any better - overcast and in the mid-50’s. Perfect for running! As we made the first turn we were presented with a stunning view of the bridge that spans the Straits of Mackinac. Seeing the bridge always brings up a lot of emotion for me. A little over 13 years ago I scattered my dad’s ashes on the shores of Lake Michigan near the bridge. So, I made sure I gave him a big smile as I ran past this morning.
Mile 2-7 were pretty uneventful. The back side of the island has a few residential areas but most of it is an untouched wilderness. Seeing the canopy of pines and deciduous trees along the shores of Lake Huron was enough to keep me entertained. THIS is Michigan in my mind!
Mile 8 greeted us with a bit of a headwind going towards the finish but I was feeling so good and so strong that I just wanted to give that mile everything I had.
This race marks the beginning of a “training hiatus” for me. This was making me feel a bit sad and aimless for the past few weeks. I thought coming in to this race that I would be running away from a lot of frustration. These past few weeks have been pretty rough on me mentally and emotionally, however, none of that pain manifested itself in my running today. Today was all about feeling good and being cleansed! While I was running I felt a huge weight lifted from my heart and my mind. I am ready to give my mind and body a break and spent my time today running towards much bigger and much better chapters in my life! That doesn’t mean that I’m putting my running up on the shelf now - just the back burner. I am so glad that I had such a great running experience to usher me in to the next phase of my life!
By the Numbers:
Mile 1 - 7:45
Mile 2 - 7:51
Mile 3 - 8:03
Mile 4 - 7:45
Mile 5 - 8:06
Mile 6 - 7:56
Mile 7 - 8:04
Mile 8 - 7:41
OA: 1:03:10 - 7:54/mile
5th in AG, 145th OA
Mackinac Island, MI
September 11, 2010
I can’t remember when I first heard about this race but it’s been bouncing around in the back of my head for a couple of years. The timing isn’t great, since it’s tough to leave me class so early in the year but I decided that this was the year I needed to do it.
I arrived in Detroit on Thursday (after an incredibly long delay in Denver) at nearly 2:00 a.m. Not starting off so great. I finally get to the hotel and my mom and aunt decided to “surprise” me by being in my room. I guess “surprise” was one word for it - I was really looking forward to a good night sleep by myself, but oh well.
We hit the road to the U.P. in the late morning and arrived in the early evening. We headed to my favorite local restaurant - The Driftwood - for dinner. I tried to hit the hay early since I had less than 5 hours of sleep the night before. Sharing a room with two other people who don’t sleep well is not a good idea the night before a race.
So with two nights of little-to-no sleep I was just happy to get out of bed and get going. I started off my day with “the usual” breakfast and walked across the street to catch the 7:30 ferry over to the island.
After I arrived I had about 1/2 mile walk to the resort that was hosting the race - The Mission Point Resort. I grabbed some Starbucks and found my way to the resort to pick up my shirt and bib. At this point I realized I was facing a wardrobe dilemma. I thought it was going to be a bit cooler so I dressed accordingly - but the weather system was delayed in getting here and I realized I would be too hot running in my capris. I had a pair of shorts in my gear bag, however, my gear bag was back on the mainland with my mom who would be coming over later. Rather than be stressed about finding her and my shorts right before the race I decided I’d better buy something from the vendor at the packet pick up. Thank goodness they were there! I was able to get my “usual” Nike shorts for $20 - win-win!
I did a quick warm up and got ready to line up at the start. This race had about 1400 participants - in addition to the 8 mile run they also have an 8 mile walk. With this type of race and the number of participants - I think they should consider doing a wave start. I realized there were a lot of walkers lined up towards the front and decided that I needed to move up even farther to avoid the inevitable traffic jam.
The official “Go!” was shouted and we were off.
My goals for this race were...
Enjoy the scenery!
Stay within an 8:05-8:15 pace in order to finish between 1:04 and 1:08
Enjoy the scenery!
Of course I had my Pixie-Dust dream too of running UNDER 1:04 and run fast enough to be in the Top 5 of my AG. After looking at last year’s race results there was a huge discrepancy between 5th and 6th. I knew if I ran my 8:05 I would land smack dab between last year’s 5th and 6th grade time.
Mile 1 took us right through Main Street on the Island past all of the fudge shops and souvenir stores towards the residential area of the island. The weather couldn’t have been any better - overcast and in the mid-50’s. Perfect for running! As we made the first turn we were presented with a stunning view of the bridge that spans the Straits of Mackinac. Seeing the bridge always brings up a lot of emotion for me. A little over 13 years ago I scattered my dad’s ashes on the shores of Lake Michigan near the bridge. So, I made sure I gave him a big smile as I ran past this morning.
Mile 2-7 were pretty uneventful. The back side of the island has a few residential areas but most of it is an untouched wilderness. Seeing the canopy of pines and deciduous trees along the shores of Lake Huron was enough to keep me entertained. THIS is Michigan in my mind!
Mile 8 greeted us with a bit of a headwind going towards the finish but I was feeling so good and so strong that I just wanted to give that mile everything I had.
This race marks the beginning of a “training hiatus” for me. This was making me feel a bit sad and aimless for the past few weeks. I thought coming in to this race that I would be running away from a lot of frustration. These past few weeks have been pretty rough on me mentally and emotionally, however, none of that pain manifested itself in my running today. Today was all about feeling good and being cleansed! While I was running I felt a huge weight lifted from my heart and my mind. I am ready to give my mind and body a break and spent my time today running towards much bigger and much better chapters in my life! That doesn’t mean that I’m putting my running up on the shelf now - just the back burner. I am so glad that I had such a great running experience to usher me in to the next phase of my life!
By the Numbers:
Mile 1 - 7:45
Mile 2 - 7:51
Mile 3 - 8:03
Mile 4 - 7:45
Mile 5 - 8:06
Mile 6 - 7:56
Mile 7 - 8:04
Mile 8 - 7:41
OA: 1:03:10 - 7:54/mile
5th in AG, 145th OA
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Outdoor Divas Tri Like a Girl - Sprint Triathlon
Outdoor Divas Tri Like a Girl - Sprint Triathlon
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Union Reservoir, Longmont CO
The Training
Last May, I decided that I wanted to take on a new challenge. I decided not to train for a Fall marathon because I wanted to give my body a rest from the perpetual training I’ve done for more than 12 continuous months. All that being said - I knew I’d have a LOT of time on my hands during my time away from school this summer. So, the idea of doing a triathlon popped in to my head.
I cruised around on line to find one that would be a good first time experience - triathletes are a bit intimidating, in my opinion. My criteria were, a small race (approximately 500 athletes), an all women’s event, and nearby. Outdoor Divas fit the bill to a T! The max registration was set at 500, all women, and in Longmont. Check, check, check!
I can’t remember which plan I decided to follow - however, it was a pretty basic plan. All of the training for each discipline was based on time. There were no specific workouts for speed, intervals, etc. I knew that swimming would be my weakest event so I really worked on my breathing and keeping my strokes even when I was in the pool. I didn’t invest in a road bike but I supped up my mountain bike to have a little less resistance on the road. I locked out my shocks and switched to 1.5” slicks. Made it a bit quicker. My plan for running included some easy runs and “longer” runs of about 50 minutes. I also continued my year of “streaking” while I was training for this triathlon.
I felt pretty confident in my training through the summer - swim was good (I was able to do a couple of open water swim in addition to laps at the pool), biking was good, running was great! I did a few races this summer to gauge my fitness. I had a PR in my Half-Marathon in early June (1:45:48) and a near PR at a 5K in late July (22:14, 30 seconds off of my PR). During the past couple weeks of July and early August my traveling and work schedules got in the way of training - but I did the best I could.
Goals
Since this was my first tri I wasn’t sure what to expect, however, I had some goals in mind. For the swim - I told myself that I would be happy finishing the 1/2 mile in about 20 minutes. For the bike - I thought I could finish between 45-50 minutes based on my rides over the summer. And for the run - I wanted to finish in under 25 minutes. I was guessing I could finish the whole race between 1:30:00 and 1:45:00.
The Race
My friend and colleague, Cindy, agreed to do the race with me. She is a seasoned veteran of Triathlons and it was reassuring and helpful to have her guidance and experience as I prepared for this race. Cindy gave me great pointers on gear and training in addition to being a calming force on the day of the race!
We got on the road early to head to Boulder to pick up our packets and check out “the scene”. We stopped by Boulder Running Company and Whole Foods before heading out to Union Reservoir to check out the course. We were both a little concerned by the dirt/rock paths leading to and from the transition area. Ouch!
I got up nice and early on Sunday morning after a short night of sleep. After a hearty breakfast (oatmeal, surprise!) we headed to the reservoir to get ready for the race!
Cindy gave me great tips and pointers of how to set up my transition area. We chose a rack close to the entry from the swim. After getting everything set up we checked out the course. It was extremely well marked and very user friendly for first timers!
The swim waves were arranged by age groups. Since there were many first timers at this event they had specific waves for age group first timers - so I was in Wave 7 out of 8. It was really helpful to see the other waves go before me so I could sort of visualize what I was in for out there!
The water temperature was 77 degrees on race morning! It was pretty funny when my wave stepped up to the start - everyone wanted to hang back and not be “first”! When the horn blew all of us took off. It got a little crowded until we got to the first buoy. I had to remind myself that I was not “racing” this part of the triathlon, merely surviving! I think a lot of the other girls had this realization too. I was seeing a lot of surprised looks on their faces too that they were working a little bit too hard. I had a quick talk with myself to get it under control and decided that I would do 20 strokes of freestyle, then 10 strokes of breast and alternate until I could stick with all freestyle. When we turned left at the second buoy the swim was seeming a little bit easier. I forgot to take the wind in to consideration. The first leg of the swim we were swimming into the waves - after the turn the waves were on our right side making it a little bit easier. I continued with the 20-10 alternating strokes until we turned the 3rd buoy. At that point the waves were at our backs and I was able to switch to all free. I was actually feeling pretty good about my swim at this point.
As I approached the exit point I removed my cap and earplugs and took a quick dunk under so my hair could look mildly presentable (I know, vain!). After I exited the water I got my legs under me as I jogged to the transition area. Luckily they laid outdoor carpet over the rocks and dirt (save the tootsies!). I was soaking wet and trying to pull on my tank top and shorts. My next challenge was getting my socks on - I dried my feet as best I could, but it was still difficult. My shoes also were trouble some as my bike shoes have laces. Once I got myself put together I jogged my bike through the transition area to the start of the bike course.
Once I was on the bike I attempted to get my Garmin around my wrist while trying not to fall. Finally got that in place and took my Chocolate Honey Stinger. I ended up getting the Stinger down the wrong pipe and spent the rest of the ride coughing and getting my throat cleared. Annoying. I had my chain set on the middle ring in the front for the entire first lap of the course. As I started the second lap I switched to my big ring so I could pick up a little speed. While I was riding I played leap frog with a couple of other ladies but didn’t get passed by many other riders. That felt pretty good! The course meandered through a residential area and we made three loops before returning to the transition area.
After I dismounted I jogged my bike back to the rack so I could get my muscles ready for the run. I switched out shoes grabbed my visor and started my Garmin. The course started with a few turns and then went out to a county road for an out and back. I glanced down at my Garmin and saw that my pace was 7:22 - oops. Needed to slow it down if I didn’t want to crash and burn before mile one! On the run I realized how quickly the temperature was rising. The forecast included record high temperatures for the Denver area - ooh! lucky me! I was sort of surprised by how many people were walking the course. I was definitely set on running the whole 5K no matter how tired I was feeling or how hot I was. There was a slight incline to the turn around point and I told myself that I had to earn that downhill! Not ONE person passed me on the run! With about a half-mile to go I was getting so excited about finishing my first triathlon! I
enjoyed a most spectacular view of Long’s Peak as I crossed the finish line - at 1:28:36!
The Results
Swim: 18:55, 237/449 Overall
Transition 1: 2:52
Bike: 40:55, 18.2 MPH, 174/449 Overall
Transition 2: 1:35
Run: 24:23, 7:52/mile, 33/449 Overall
Overall Place: 113/449
Age Group Place: 24/74
Age Group First Timer Place: 4th
I was absolutely ecstatic that I met all of my goals for this race and even surpassed some of them. I had a great experience this first time out and have already been hunting around for my next race! Perhaps I’ll tackle and Olympic distance next time out. :)
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Union Reservoir, Longmont CO
The Training
Last May, I decided that I wanted to take on a new challenge. I decided not to train for a Fall marathon because I wanted to give my body a rest from the perpetual training I’ve done for more than 12 continuous months. All that being said - I knew I’d have a LOT of time on my hands during my time away from school this summer. So, the idea of doing a triathlon popped in to my head.
I cruised around on line to find one that would be a good first time experience - triathletes are a bit intimidating, in my opinion. My criteria were, a small race (approximately 500 athletes), an all women’s event, and nearby. Outdoor Divas fit the bill to a T! The max registration was set at 500, all women, and in Longmont. Check, check, check!
I can’t remember which plan I decided to follow - however, it was a pretty basic plan. All of the training for each discipline was based on time. There were no specific workouts for speed, intervals, etc. I knew that swimming would be my weakest event so I really worked on my breathing and keeping my strokes even when I was in the pool. I didn’t invest in a road bike but I supped up my mountain bike to have a little less resistance on the road. I locked out my shocks and switched to 1.5” slicks. Made it a bit quicker. My plan for running included some easy runs and “longer” runs of about 50 minutes. I also continued my year of “streaking” while I was training for this triathlon.
I felt pretty confident in my training through the summer - swim was good (I was able to do a couple of open water swim in addition to laps at the pool), biking was good, running was great! I did a few races this summer to gauge my fitness. I had a PR in my Half-Marathon in early June (1:45:48) and a near PR at a 5K in late July (22:14, 30 seconds off of my PR). During the past couple weeks of July and early August my traveling and work schedules got in the way of training - but I did the best I could.
Goals
Since this was my first tri I wasn’t sure what to expect, however, I had some goals in mind. For the swim - I told myself that I would be happy finishing the 1/2 mile in about 20 minutes. For the bike - I thought I could finish between 45-50 minutes based on my rides over the summer. And for the run - I wanted to finish in under 25 minutes. I was guessing I could finish the whole race between 1:30:00 and 1:45:00.
The Race
My friend and colleague, Cindy, agreed to do the race with me. She is a seasoned veteran of Triathlons and it was reassuring and helpful to have her guidance and experience as I prepared for this race. Cindy gave me great pointers on gear and training in addition to being a calming force on the day of the race!
We got on the road early to head to Boulder to pick up our packets and check out “the scene”. We stopped by Boulder Running Company and Whole Foods before heading out to Union Reservoir to check out the course. We were both a little concerned by the dirt/rock paths leading to and from the transition area. Ouch!
I got up nice and early on Sunday morning after a short night of sleep. After a hearty breakfast (oatmeal, surprise!) we headed to the reservoir to get ready for the race!
Cindy gave me great tips and pointers of how to set up my transition area. We chose a rack close to the entry from the swim. After getting everything set up we checked out the course. It was extremely well marked and very user friendly for first timers!
The swim waves were arranged by age groups. Since there were many first timers at this event they had specific waves for age group first timers - so I was in Wave 7 out of 8. It was really helpful to see the other waves go before me so I could sort of visualize what I was in for out there!
The water temperature was 77 degrees on race morning! It was pretty funny when my wave stepped up to the start - everyone wanted to hang back and not be “first”! When the horn blew all of us took off. It got a little crowded until we got to the first buoy. I had to remind myself that I was not “racing” this part of the triathlon, merely surviving! I think a lot of the other girls had this realization too. I was seeing a lot of surprised looks on their faces too that they were working a little bit too hard. I had a quick talk with myself to get it under control and decided that I would do 20 strokes of freestyle, then 10 strokes of breast and alternate until I could stick with all freestyle. When we turned left at the second buoy the swim was seeming a little bit easier. I forgot to take the wind in to consideration. The first leg of the swim we were swimming into the waves - after the turn the waves were on our right side making it a little bit easier. I continued with the 20-10 alternating strokes until we turned the 3rd buoy. At that point the waves were at our backs and I was able to switch to all free. I was actually feeling pretty good about my swim at this point.
As I approached the exit point I removed my cap and earplugs and took a quick dunk under so my hair could look mildly presentable (I know, vain!). After I exited the water I got my legs under me as I jogged to the transition area. Luckily they laid outdoor carpet over the rocks and dirt (save the tootsies!). I was soaking wet and trying to pull on my tank top and shorts. My next challenge was getting my socks on - I dried my feet as best I could, but it was still difficult. My shoes also were trouble some as my bike shoes have laces. Once I got myself put together I jogged my bike through the transition area to the start of the bike course.
Once I was on the bike I attempted to get my Garmin around my wrist while trying not to fall. Finally got that in place and took my Chocolate Honey Stinger. I ended up getting the Stinger down the wrong pipe and spent the rest of the ride coughing and getting my throat cleared. Annoying. I had my chain set on the middle ring in the front for the entire first lap of the course. As I started the second lap I switched to my big ring so I could pick up a little speed. While I was riding I played leap frog with a couple of other ladies but didn’t get passed by many other riders. That felt pretty good! The course meandered through a residential area and we made three loops before returning to the transition area.
After I dismounted I jogged my bike back to the rack so I could get my muscles ready for the run. I switched out shoes grabbed my visor and started my Garmin. The course started with a few turns and then went out to a county road for an out and back. I glanced down at my Garmin and saw that my pace was 7:22 - oops. Needed to slow it down if I didn’t want to crash and burn before mile one! On the run I realized how quickly the temperature was rising. The forecast included record high temperatures for the Denver area - ooh! lucky me! I was sort of surprised by how many people were walking the course. I was definitely set on running the whole 5K no matter how tired I was feeling or how hot I was. There was a slight incline to the turn around point and I told myself that I had to earn that downhill! Not ONE person passed me on the run! With about a half-mile to go I was getting so excited about finishing my first triathlon! I
enjoyed a most spectacular view of Long’s Peak as I crossed the finish line - at 1:28:36!
The Results
Swim: 18:55, 237/449 Overall
Transition 1: 2:52
Bike: 40:55, 18.2 MPH, 174/449 Overall
Transition 2: 1:35
Run: 24:23, 7:52/mile, 33/449 Overall
Overall Place: 113/449
Age Group Place: 24/74
Age Group First Timer Place: 4th
I was absolutely ecstatic that I met all of my goals for this race and even surpassed some of them. I had a great experience this first time out and have already been hunting around for my next race! Perhaps I’ll tackle and Olympic distance next time out. :)
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