MV 20 Miler - Post Race

Done and done! What a run! Luckily I didn't have time to get nervous before the race, actually, I was almost late. You can't just leave when it's USA/ Russia OT hockey in the Olympics! Anyway, I made it to the start line with a few minutes to spare and found my "team". I would end up running the entire 10 with Pete from Boston who is a training partner of my college roommate's. It worked out perfectly. I've always read about how a good pace in one in which you are able to carry on a conversation, training solo, I've never been able to accomplish that. During this race, I did. Pete set a great pace and we chatted comfortably throughout the race, finishing in 1:37 & change. 

We really lucked out with the weather, there was actually a blizzard warning in effect for the cape & islands and our leg missed it by minutes. As we "handed off" in the transition zone (Emily had actually jumped in at mile 8 with us and Pete's teammate started early at mile 5 to get her 15 mile run in) the snow began to get a bit heavier and, to us, beautiful. For those at the halfway mark of their run it may not have been so beautiful. 

Our run had started at the crosswalk on Water St in VH, right at the Steamship terminal. We ran, as a pack, through 5 corners and up and over the drawbridge, it was a sight to see. Once everyone started to find their pace the pack got strung out over a distance and it was a little quieter, and easier for auto traffic to get by everyone. We had a beautiful run around West Chop and along Oak Bluffs Harbor where Em and Chad were waiting with cheers of support. After that we headed toward the beach, what could have been a grueling stretch was a beautiful, perfect temperature, run with just the right amount of wind nudging us from behind. As we came across the bridges and made our way to the Bend we were delighted to find my parents and sister and brother-in-law waiting to cheer us on into the final mile. Getting a high five from my nephew on the way by was just what I needed for a strong finish. 

As we got to the triangle (an intersection in Edgartown 100 yds. from the transition zone) I was delighted to find my friend Angie sitting in the first car stopped in traffic, waiting patiently for all us runners to cross. Once we closed out our 10, I was (easily) convinced to go into Sharky's Cantina (which was perfectly located at the transition) and downing a huge water/coconut water combo followed up by a much deserved mudslide, in all honesty, maybe the best mudslide I'd ever had!

All in all it was a great race, the snow, while beautiful, did a number on some of the 20 milers as it was wet and heavy. the relay seemed to be a major success and the director, a classmate of mine, said they would definitely be doing it again next year. I had a great time and can't wait for the next race! 

Next up: St. Patrick's 5k here on island then the Great Bay 1/2 Marathon in April up in NH.

2014 Races and maybe I don't "hate" running anymore

My race schedule this year includes 7 definite's and 3 maybe's (in italics in the left column). T-minus 11 days till Race #1: The Vineyard 20 Miler. They have added a relay option this year and have had 38 teams of two sign up to tackle the visually spectacular and potentially esteem defeating route. If the wind is going the right way the 5 or so miles along the beach could be some of the most beautiful miles I log in a race this year, if we get a SE or East wind, well.....I'm totally screwed. So henceforth I shall be asking the powers that be for fair winds and following seas. 

Just last week I officially committed to 2 half marathons! I'll be heading north for both, the Great Bay Half Marathon in Newmarket, NH in April and later in the year, the Maine Half Marathon up in Portland, ME. Both allow me to visit and enjoy the company of some fantastic friends and enjoy some great towns and local fare.

The blog and the fitness tracking are helping keep me focused and a month into my training I am holding up well. According to my workout spreadsheet (yes, I'm that dorky, actually even more so) I've stuck to my regime and am on target for my 500 miles. I am (dare I say it?)  beginning to like, and look forward to, running. That is something I never saw in my future and I am ecstatic to be looking forward to running. I stumbled upon this website,  iusedtohaterunning.com, and it really helped me get started again. After reading a bit and see what they were all about I started running, slowly. This was in the fall and I wasn't as consistent as I have been since the end of December but it was something, I was getting out there from time to time. The main piece I took away from the site was to not worry about having to walk. If you are running along and hating every second, why bash yourself? Walk until you feel ready again and step it up. Once I took the competitor out of myself for a bit I found myself getting to points where I didn't have to walk and I wasn't hating it. Today, the competitor in me is back and I haven't had to walk in a while, if I'm being honest, it is STILL a struggle to get through the first mile or so on a good number of my runs but I push through, I know that once I get going and get my body in a rhythm, it's going to be great and you know what? 9 times out of ten, it is.

Week 2 Breakdown

This was a harrowing week for my running, temps were coming in the 10's, my schedule was jam packed and I found it difficult to get my 3 runs in. If I can pull myself out of bed earlier in the mornings I could get in the 3-4 that I'm aiming for  but it's just so damn cozy on those cold winter mornings! 

I managed 2 runs despite the cold and craziness and it certainly felt good to get those in even though both were on the treadmill, I hate being a giant hamster in a wheel, guess it's time to put on my big girl tights and get outside! I upped my speed a bit on the treadmill and once I got into a rhythm I was pretty solid.....then my iPad lost the wifi connection and my focus was gone, I do so enjoy running while watching an episode of one show or another, I feel the time pass a bit faster when I'm caught up in the politics of vampire/ human interaction in Louisiana  or catching up on the Stuff You Missed in History Class Podcast. I find myself setting my run times based on the running time of episodes, unless of course I'm kickin' it to my running playlist which jumps from Mary J Blige to the Honkey Tonk Angels and over to P!nk and Neon Trees.

The Vineyard 20 Miler is fast approaching, just over a month to go..... I feel I'll be ready to do my 10, worst case scenario: my legs hate me for a few days. I'm aiming for 1:35. I think 1:40 is more realistic but I'd really like to set a goal that's a touch out of my reach rather than one I know I can hit. We'll see on the 15th......

The Year of 500 miles

2014 is the year of 500 miles for me. I've decided to get to that point where I look forward to running and have started the year off with 13 miles in week one. It's been a mix of outdoor, pre-blizzard, running and racking up miles on my wonderful sister's treadmill while catching up on TrueBlood. I'm only in a week but this is the most consistent running I've done in quite a while. I forced myself to take a rest day (I know myself and don't want to burn out in the first bit) and I found that I missed going for a run. I like that development.

I plan on keeping to a schedule of running 3-4x  week on top of playing hockey 2x a week. I am currently training to run a tandem relay of the Vineyard 20 Miler with my college roommate who is a veteran of this and other impressive races. The race is run in 6 weeks or so and my portion (10 miles) will be my longest distance to date, my previous long race is a 15k (9.3 miles) that the same roommate talked me into a couple years ago. This race should be different because I am actually putting in the time and training beforehand. I'd like to think that  if I do the first leg and am feeling good I may stretch it out and do 13.2 just to prove to myself I can. That will be a game time decision though. Following that, in May I'm taking part, as a member of the Amity Island Running Club, in my first Reach the Beach Relay, 200 miles in 24 hrs ( we're  a 6 person team that will be matched with another 6 person team to log the 2oo miles).

I am hoping that this blog will help me document my training and help keep me on task, as I do tend to start strong and then justify excuses to not work out and or write. I hope to keep track of not only my running but my culinary adventures over the next year. My home was damaged a year ago when a pipe burst and flooded it but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The home, which was my grandparents, has been updated and brought up to code. While it has taken almost a year to do all the necessary work, it has been well worth it. The hope is to be moved in the last week of January. From then my cooking will take off, I've got lots of recipes to try and am excited to have more than 7 sq ft of counter space in which to work and counters that are above standard height (I'm amazon tall).

If there end up being readers of this blog, so be it. I'll be happy if it's simply a place for me to post race and training results and recipes for my enjoyment but if others find it interesting, welcome.