Holiday Halfathon 2012

pre-race, faking not being nervous!

Eight days ago I ran the Holiday Halfathon for the first time.  Great race, pretty much flat, strange time of year.  Never did this race before because we are usually coming off a full triathlon season and needing a break.  But, in my new run focus, this was going to be a good test of current fitness.  I hoped to get a fitness boost from Turkey Trot 10K two week prior and had a few longish (not marathon long) runs under my belt so felt it wouldn't be a disaster anyway.  The top gals overall were returning and I mostly focused on trying to run with Terri Rejimbal, whom I consider to be the best masters female in the state (and she runs a lot of half marathons!).  This was to be only my 5th 1/2 marathon in my career so the experience level is lacking a bit!  So, my goal was to try and pace myself off someone a lot more experienced than myself, Terri.  I realized this could be a really bad idea if my fitness wasn't where I hoped but figured I was going to give it a go.  Weather was seasonably warm, very humid with light winds.....kind of perfect.  Gun goes off and, boy, some of these girls were out very fast!  I had to go along and not let my goal trot up the road without me.  I stalked and stalked and the pace (6:3x at the time) felt ok but I knew I wouldn't be able to hold this the entire time!  Yada, yada, yada, I caught up with Terri on the later miles heading up the Pinellas trail.  I sat on her and just let her dictate the pace which was likely very annoying but it's the only chance I had!  I made a move on a short overpass a couple miles (or so, it's foggy now) and got a little bit of a gap, good stuff.  Felt pretty good with this until about 12 1/2 miles when suddenly, my damn feet were glued to the pavement.  Terri went around me fast and I had no response and just trotted in in third overall.  Not a bad result all in all but was hoping for second (first place gal was way ahead, she ran Olympic Trials marathon last Jan).  Reviewing my heart rate data showed I really went as hard as possible so no disappointment here.  I do recommend this race, it was a lot of fun!
Started Boston push this past week once I recovered from the soreness of the Halfathon!  So far, so good with 17 weeks to go!  Plan on racing Clearwater Halfathon in Jan.

oh boy, I'm hurting now!

Wishing all a peaceful Christmas and lots of running........oh, that's just us!
Cheers!

Turkey Trot 2012

So, another Turkey Trot comes and goes.  Man, time really flies!  I only really started running regularly at the end of September/early October so I didn't really know how Turkey Trot would go this year.  Last year, we were well into marathon mileage so the result was more expected.  This year, I was just trying to string some decent weeks together, toss it against a wall and see what falls out.  That's how I felt going into it anyway.  Got healthy enough late October/early November to do a couple of tempo runs, problem is, the pace was way slower than 10K pace!  But, progress is progress so I felt positive about any pace action I could get.  Had been feeling about as healthy as possible coming off an achilles problem (since Feb) and a hamstring/adductor strain, so I would race the 10K as hard as possible, hoping these issues won't resurface.  Unfortunately, my training partner, the Dane, was down with an injury of his own so all my running miles were solo, sort of boring.  He had to miss Turkey Trot for the first time since I've known him, bummed for sure.  But, ever the positive influence, he poured his efforts and hopes into me, love that!  Anyone who has run with/against me knows, when I pin on a number, it's on.  This year was no different.  Went out harder than I should and felt it later for sure.  Got into a real battle with two 20-somethings well into the race and I went for it at mile 5 (into the shitty headwind).  I got a gap and tried to hold it, hiding behind any guys I could find at that point (the top 3 gals were long gone!).  I was really dying but trying to tough it out and hit the track unaware of the stalker behind me!  The gal that finished 3rd last year (and beat me by 20+ seconds) came around me in the last 50meters like Usain Bolt and I, obviously, couldn't answer.  Back in the day (read, when I was her age), I never lost in a sprint.  Well, today, in my mid-40's, is a new day.   I must be able to read the future because this was why I tried to break them at mile 5!  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but only one of these youngsters caught me!  And, I got a Hell of a workout!  More importantly, defended my Masters 10K title which, going in, wasn't a given considering the injury issues the past several months!
Next up, Holiday Halfathon (half marathon) 11/9.  We have never done this race even though it finishes in the park little more than half a mile from the house.  Point to point, fairly flat, familiar surroundings.  I'll go til I drop and see how it washes out.  Competition not terribly deep unless you are at the pointy end, ugh!  I sense another extremely painful adventure!  I wouldn't trade it for anything!
Cheers.