CLICK HERE FOR BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND MYSPACE LAYOUTS »

Monday, March 16, 2009

Shamrock'N Half Marathon Race Report

Does anyone have a good recipe for egg salad? Cuz I made hard boiled eggs today and Charlotte decided to peel three of them, slice them with an egg slicer, and not eat a single one. Kidlets!

So yesterday was the Shamrock'N Half Marathon that I participated in. I guess I'm getting a little lackadaisical in my racing endeavors because even though the direction said to be there at 6:30 I told my husband, " I don't need to be there until 7:15, the race doesn't start until 8 and I'm already checked in." But in our typical family fashion we didn't leave my house until 7:05 and it is a half hour drive...and we stopped for coffee because I thought I'd have plenty of time to use the restrooms at the baseball field where it started.

But we got stuck in a little bit of a traffic jam on the off ramp...so I got there with about 10 minutes to spare, hustled to the bathroom only to find a line about 50 - 100 women long. So I decided to run without going to the bathroom first...probably shouldn't have asked for that extra shot in my latte. I did have some stomach cramping, but I managed to make it the whole race without having to stop.

I was in the second wave to start, the 9 - 11 minute mile pace...that was a very popular group. My goal was to come in around 2:15 or better so I tried to keep the 2:10 pace girl in my site (I don't know how those people carry those signs for that long while running). Last year I made the mistake of starting out too fast and totally bonked after about 3 miles. I can do 4 or 5 miles at a 9 minute pace, but not 13. I kept with my pacer pretty good, but I really felt like I was in a herd of cattle, I guess the 10 minute pace is popular.

At about 6.5 miles I saw my bootcamp trainer. This was her first race and she was doing the relay, all the relay runners started in the first wave. I could tell she was struggling (she had a blister under her big toe) so I ran with her for her last .5 miles to help her get to her exchange. She was glad to see me, and I felt good about giving her a boost...but I lost sight of my pacer at this point. It was okay though, I still had my garmin and was able to keep track of my pace pretty good.

The race was really uneventful, the last two miles I could feel my legs starting to tire...but I had my rhythm going and just kept putting one foot after the other. The coolest thing about this race, other than all the cool St. Patrick outfits people wear is that it ends at Raley Baseball Field and when you enter the stadium you run around the outside of the field and have lots of people in the stands cheering for you - my trainer was there cheering for me, my husband and girls...and you sort of feel like a rock star for a moment. Then you have to climb the stairs to get out of the stadium. Aargh! and the 1/2 mile I had to walk to my car after the race was the hardest part...but at least I didn't really feel any pain until then. My only injury other than general stiffness was some bra line chafing.

Oh yeah, my time was 2:15 (I think a 10:20 pace) - so I met my goal. I was actually hoping for a little better, maybe next time I'll actually take my training seriously and do better...maybe. I'd love to get closer to the 2 hour mark. Overall I am happy with how I did and I had fun.

9 Talk to me people!:

jinxxxygirl said...

Hey Congratulations Girl! Thats awesome. I can only dream about actually running a half marathon. The next one i do will definately be more of a run/walk instead of all walk. I was thinking maybe run one mile , walk one and so on. Hopefully with my daughter maybe in California. Thinking about the Cowtown Marathon in what October i think. Well girl keep putting one foot in fron of the other. Your doing great! Jinx!

raulgonemobile said...

Sounds like a great race.. you got the important part right at least, you had fun. Nice job

Marcy said...

CONGRATS CHICA!! Hey, you met your goal, what more can you ask for? :-)

Randi said...

haha! I love how you're all like "oh yeah, I guess I ran this race on the weekend, ho hum..." A half marathon is a big deal dude! Congrats! I'll tell you what I always say to make myself run faster, if you run faster, then it's over sooner. I always say I could never run for an HOUR! so I have to get my 10K done in 55 minutes.

P.O.M. said...

Nice job. Don't the relay people kinda make ya mad.. especially when the 2nd wave comes in and they are all fresh and fast? Admit it. Admit it!

Nice job on keeping your pace!

Heather said...

Crap! I am behind in my blog reading. You are a goddess! Way to goooooooooooooooo!

Fatinah said...

what a great race time! you so rock!

Michelle said...

Wow girl you ran a great race! That is my goal to finish a half marathon in!! I am not sure I can but a girl can dream right??

Glad to see you posting girlie!!

I am still not cleared to run yet but I did run a 10 min mile today!!! Sssssh don't tell anybody!!!

Nancy said...

OMG, I'm so jealous. Great job, it sounded so effortless. YEAH YOU.