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Sunday, January 23, 2011

Clearwater Half Marathon: RR

It's been a busy week. I've not been a great blogger at all. Not only have I not written regularly, but I've raced twice (10K last weekend and half today) and didn't take my camera with me to either race. I did; however, go out with Penny one night and happen to take pictures then. I even bought my wedding dress and had a camera then ... just not at the races :/

The 10K website will not let me save the pictures from online (even with the copyright sign across them), so if you'd like to check them out, you can go here. While warming up, Jackie, Luis and I ran on the 5K course and so the photographer took our pictures then, too! Ha! :)

Before I get to today's race, here are some other pictures from this week. I never post pictures and I feel like I owe you guys more than a lot!





Dinner and Wine at Penny's!



Sadly, I think we finally got this picture right on take 100!



Posed, but cute, right?!



We thought we should go "out" even after all of that wine! :)

Okay, so onto the race!!

After the Holiday Half, I vowed to taper before my next! I stuck to my normal schedule through Wednesday track and then took Thursday and Friday completely OFF! I ran two miles yesterday to loosen my legs. One easy, one at "goal pace." 8:24, 7:19 Perfect! :)

This morning came early. The alarm went off at 4:45AM. I immediately checked the weather on my phone and it was 44 degrees. It wasn't supposed to warm up! I didn't really know what to wear. It was freezing, but I wasn't sure how much my body would warm up. 44 degrees and windy!! I was nervous.

I got to the race almost an hour early and was able to park about 200 feet away from the Start/Finish line. It's the small things that make me happy! :) Sadly though, I was freezing and sat in my car until about fifteen minutes before the race started. I just didn't want to be cold. I warmed for about five minutes and then made my way to the start line.

My only race strategy was to feel good the entire time. I had an amazing half on Nov. 21st (1:37:35) running and feeling better than I've ever before! Three weeks later, I ran another half in 1:41:54 and was miserable from mile 5 on. This week I analyzed the splits to both races. By mile 4 of the miserable race I was over a minute faster than I was on my PR race. I started TOO fast and it caused me not only misery, but 4+ minutes later in the race. I've never crashed and burned so badly in a race before and was determined to not let that happen!

So, race plan! The first five miles cannot be faster than 7:30. Then, if I feel good, I can pick it up! I kept it that simple.

The problem ... it was windy and the course was HILLY!! My coach had already written on my schedule that this wouldn't be a PR course. By the way, when someone from FL says "hilly" it means that we're running bridges. It's usually .25-.35 miles worth of climbing 75-100 feet followed by an equally steep downhill.

I can honestly say that I felt very good the entire time!! .25 miles into the race and I was running at an 8:07 pace. I didn't start too fast!!! I started about 14 seconds back which worked!! This course was absolutely beautiful and I would definitely recommend this race!

7:39 - first HILL
7:22 - first downhill
7:26
7:35 - second HILL
7:19 - second downhill
7:21
7:23
7:32 (horrible wind)
7:31 (horrible wind)
7:40 - third and hardest HILL
7:24 - third down hill
7:22
6:58 - fourth HILL + fourth downhill
6:10 pace

Total Time: 1:35:53

PR and good enough for automatic entry into the NYC marathon!! No more lottery for this girl! :)

12th overall female 12/261
57th overall place (men and women) 57/600 (exactly 600 finishers)
1st in age group 1/32 FINALLY!!!



14 comments:

  1. Congratulations! Sounds like you had an amazing race!

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  2. wow great race. that wind! man oh man great splits and WHOO HOO to automatic NYC entry :) you gonna do it? i'm still debating...

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  3. Yay yay yay! Congrats again and adorable pics. Congrats on the first place age group too!

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  4. Congrats on your PR and age group win!!!! That is such a fantastic time!! Are you doing the NYC marathon?

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  5. amazing! I am hoping to qualify for NY in the half too! you did a great job in the race!

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  6. Congrats - NYC 1/2 - that was to be my goal for this year. I want to race my way in - no lottery!

    Congrats!!

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  7. such an amazing race for you! Great job with everything!!!! Yay for NYC qualifying time, I am hoping we can make a great big trip out of it!

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  8. Nice job!! Congrats on the NYC qualifying time!! :-]

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  9. YOU KICKED TRASH!! K, this makes my day! I am so so happy for you! YOU ARE AMAZING!! Love the pics....um, supermodel?!?! Enjoy the PR feeling, you are a rockstar!

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  10. WOOHOOO, girl! Congratulations! I think the ONLY way to run NYC is to qualify and you did it girl!!

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  11. congrats! Sounds like your race went perfect! Enjoy NYC marathon!

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  12. Holy speedster!! NICE job girlie :)

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  13. WOW! Awesome racing and a strong finish! Congrats!

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