OUC half 12/7/13

I just had to do it again to be sure! I decided last minute that I was going to run the Orlando half. I missed it last year and the year before so figured I should probably run the most popular half in my city! It was a warm start, about 70 degrees at 7 am. I started out with a new runner named Carla and it was her first half! She was nervous and I was happy to guide her. When the race started I couldn't get my music to work. I had started my run keeper but no music. I messed with it and then just gave up. It was going to be my first half with no music help me god. Carla and I didn't talk much. We focused on breathing and managing the cobblestone. Her foot started hurting around the fourth mile. The course was pretty shaded except for one turn. There was a lot more cobblestone than I had wanted. My bottom left foot was hurting. Then the last few miles we went a little up hill and I felt myself slowing down. Somewhere around mile 6 I lost Carla near a water stop. A lot of the cfwr girls were set up in different areas to cheer us on. That's always awesome. I finished at 2:17:03. I'm happy with that. A minute slower than last weekend.  And it was way hotter and the cobblestone was a pain. I'll probably stick to the OUC 5k for now on, but great race organization. I survived without music!

Space coast half marathon 12/1/13

I did it! Cut down my half marathon time by a lot! I ran this race for my friend Fabienne. She was injured so I purchased her bib. My first time ever running in someone else's name. It was a 6 am start time and low 60s temp. The clouds remained overcast when the sun came up so it never felt too hot.  I ran with my run keeper and music and my friend Rossana for most of it. After mile 10 I think we split up. The crowd support was okay, and the course was nice along the water. We saw one dolphin playing around. I loved all the runners I recognized. It's nice to cheer eachother on.  We stayed ahead of the 2:15 pacer until around mile 9 and then It became more  difficult to keep up. I really feel I pushed myself hard to get to the finish and break my previous times. I felt good control of my breathing and posture and was wearing my brand new New Balance shoes. That was my biggest concern the night before because I had just bought them and the sales associate at the track shack told me I should be fine to wear them for the race. He was right! No pain, no blisters. The last mile I picked up pace and could see the 2:15 pacer. I was so proud of myself. I know this sounds cliche but I never thought I could get a better time than maybe a 2:30. My goal that day was a 2:25.  I finished at 2:16:02! I had my run keeper update me at every mile - my current pace and distance and time. That's all I needed. Since starting at my bootcamp gym in July my mileage has dropped a lot. I've been focusing on building muscle and losing fat and my core. I'd run maybe one shirt run a week and one longer run on the weekend.  I only have time for so much and I'm at bootcamp Mon-Fri. Prior to running this half, I was in training for my new job in NJ for 2 weeks and had the opportunity to meet a new work friend that is also a runner. I ran with him a few days and he gave me some great pointers. I will keep this with me forever and keep in touch with him and all his races. My husband was waiting for me at the finish line. That really made me happy and he was ecstatic about my finish. It was a great day. My previous half was in April and the course I knew was shorter than 13.1 and I came in around 2:30. But this race at space coast was legit.  My 15 minute PR was real.

Miracle Miles 15k 9-21-13

And we're back! My long lost love of long distance has returned. I've done a few 5ks this year and a 10k with Brett for my UCF graduation, but this 15k really brought me back to that accomplished feeling of conquering long distance. 

The course was changed up a little bit this year and provided just a little more shaded areas than it has in the past.  CFWR had a really big turn out but for the entire race I stuck with 4 amazing ladies. Rosanna, which is usually my running partner and Nicole and Kaylin. We encouraged each other along the way and had fun with it. This race did not have much crowd support so we had to do our best to keep motivated. We were blessed with normal to warm temps but not scorching hot like it's been in Florida lately. I loved seeing the man running with a very huge and heavy American flag. When he glided past us we clapped and I felt so proud and honored to run next to someone with that determination. 

I really surprise myself. I didn't stop to walk, only at water stops. I never felt like giving up either. I had a lot on my mind. I had just resigned at my job that Friday before the race and am getting ready to go into another company and career. I was thinking about all the changes and movements forward I've made this year. I left my job as an Admin after having worked at that company 4 years and then I pushed myself full time to graduate Ucf finally while starting a new high demand job at a new company. And 5 months later, resigned and going into a career I feel will make me happier. I succeed either way. It's in my nature. So while I was running I was scared of the changes I was thinking how much running has made me pursue better things in all aspects of my life. Even with boot camp, well into my 3rd month, and I have not let down and have seen a huge difference in my body and confidence. 

The last quarter mile of Miracle Miles, Rosanna and I did our sprint to the finish. The crowd was cheering us on and I heard someone say "wow look at them go!" To be able to do what I love and maybe inspire others on the way is beyond rewarding. 

15k finish time: 1:40:56  I took off 17 min from my 15k last year.  That's progress and on target to do sub 2:30 half, my next goal. 

Lake Minneola Half 4/20/13

This half (my 10th) was MY best half so far! I was very happy of the news Friday night that they caught the 2nd bomber of the Boston Marathon. I had been glued to the news all week! I went into this half knowing it may be my last until Oct/Nov and also knowing that whenever I wanted to give up I'd think about all those injured or killed in Boston. Mind over matter and it worked. The course had a little few small hills but I did my best up them and trotted carefully down them. I didn't keep intervals just ran and only took breaks for water or when I really needed to. Also I stopped to check on one my running friends that had her knees hurting really bad. I felt bad leaving her but I've never ran my own race. I also stopped two more times to help a lady throwing up and another girl that said she was having knee pain as well. I did my best can see how me saying to other HF, messing with my iPod and helping others could've saved me a few extra minutes but I still did great! Chateau came back after completing the half and ran my last 2 miles with me. She's great! Kept me from stopping and pushed through the end. She's been sending me speed training advice and it seems to have worked! 2:30:10 was my time! Finally! That had been my goal for Sarasota but I was just having too much fun there. Every half I can see where I can improve. I'm starting to understand my mental capacity, my splits better, my energy level and I can block out how I think my body is feeling if I start to make excuses. It was brilliant! I was just so happy! I'm almost convinced now to train for a full. Almost! The weather was great too..overcast, a little windy, low 70 at best.

Sarasota First Watch 3-17-13

Had the most enjoyable St. Patrick's day weekend with some great friends. This may have been my first time celebrating it that I can remember and wearing green! We went to Lido beach Saturday and an awesome dinner at a really great local Italian restaurant. Sunday the half marathon was everything we'd dream of! Great fast course, fun highways, beautiful beach views and amazing crowd support. We all PRd that day! I would run Sarasota again and again as long as I can. 2:37:52 was my official time and fastest half. I know and see where I could've done better. I need to race my own race for now on. But it was the best weekend of the year so far!

Orange Blossom half 3-3-13

Very cold out in Tavares this morning! Low 30s is actually freezing to me. After doing this race last year, I didn't think I'd do it again. But we got a deal for signing up for two races and getting an extra medal so this was one of the first of the two. I met up with some of my friends from CFWR and we took a whole bunch of pics and tried keep warm. The course was the same as last year. Out and back and out and back again. It's always so encouraging to see your friends pass on the course and cheer you on. Tommy and Meg came out to run this as their 2nd half and I was so happy to see them. I felt I did a good job of keeping warm with all the layers I had on and protected my mouth from the cold air. I forgot to turn my gps on so had no idea how I was doing really. I ended up a minute it so slower than my pr. Good time as always.
2:41:02 official time

Orlando Xtreme Half 2/9/13

This half was definitely extreme for me! It was a completely off road and with gators, buzzards and snakes everywhere. I consider myself a nature outdoor lover but running on this surface was supposed to be easier on the knees, but it seemed a lot harder for me. I know I had a challenging week with work and school and getting my workouts in at 5:30 am with hardly no sleep but I knew I could push through. I've done it many times before. I was pacing well with my runner friend Rosanna. We were averaging an 11:15 pace until mile 5 when out of no where I just fell and slammed down on both knees. My garmin watch is scraped up and my knees were aching when I got back up. A gentleman helped me up and Rosanna too. I was so shocked that I fell. I was getting over my lake Eola trip and fall from 3 weekends earlier still and had my left knee still bandaged up! I don't know why I keep tripping. Maybe I need shoes again. The brooks ghost 4 I run in are pretty big and the bottom are worn. So needless to say, Rosanna stayed back with me and we walked some to get me cleared off and back to ready mode. My left knee in particular was throbbing. I wanted her to go on but she wouldn't leave me. I watched our pace dwindle from 12:14 to 12:20 to then the horrible 12:37 pace. Ugh I hate going backwards but I knew it was best to keep it easy. We both have a race in 3 weeks and no point in killing myself over this one. The remarkable thing about this race was the team spirit and support from all my girls. A few of us had car pooled together but all 7 of them waited at the finish line for me and Rosanna to finish. Just the fact that Rosanna stayed with me until the end was the nicest thing anyone could do. Two of my really good girlfriends came out and had made signs for me and and I saw them before the last mile and it made me feel so confident that I could finish strong even though I felt my limp while running. It was really a beautiful day and the trail course was beautiful around lakes and trees. I didn't care that we finished slower because for Rosanna it was still a PR time and that made me happy and relieved. She's an outstanding woman and forever I will see her as a great friend for staying w me. 5 of the girls in our group placed at this race and I was so happy for them! One just had a baby 7 weeks ago! They continue to inspire me everyday and I feel closer to them with each run we do. Our time ended up being 2:48:23. Not that far off my best of 2:40. But 8 minutes can mean a mile slower to some runners :)

Walt Disney World Half Marathon

Saturday: 1/12/13  - Event Date 

Expo was packed 65,000 runners, so it was expected.  Spent most of the afternoon there on Friday. 

I only got about 3 hours of sleep that night and had to meet the girls at 3:15 a.m. to get to Disney by 4.  I don’t think any of us slept well at all.  I woke up with sore throat and congestion but just sucked it up. 

It was a long slow walk to the corrals.  I think I got into mine at 5:30 a.m.  My group (D) started at 5:55. 

Most of the course was out on the roads, not really within the theme park.  If I recall correctly, it was around 5.5 or 6 that we went through the Magic Kingdom and got to go through the castle.  The spectators and their cheering was the most exciting.  I saw a few characters but the lines were so long to take photos and I just wanted to finish.  A lot of the runners were pushy and elbowed me a few times.  I mean it was super crowded and I stopped following my watch because A: I couldn’t hear it.  B: It was so crowded that when the runners had no choice but to walk I had to walk.  And C:  My watch just stopped working.   It would get crazy during the water stops and I saw people running in the opposite direction to go back to find friends or take pictures.  People were tripping over each other and their costumes and trying to cut across in every direction.  At that point around mile 7 or 8 I just decided.  Time to get this over with.  I was never a huge Disney fan; maybe because I grew up in Orlando?  I just wanted that Gold Donald medal and to say I completed a Disney race.  Had I ran with a group of friends maybe I would’ve enjoyed it more.  But there was nothing I hadn’t seen before and very seldom were we in the parks.  Several times along the course it smelled very foul.  I know now I’m being picky but the smell was very gross.  Maybe horse poop or the portable bathrooms.  

Seeing that Epcot ball and going around through mile 11 to the turn made my day.  I knew I was almost done! I tried picking up the pace because I had no idea where I was at, but who cares? It was Disney.  No one should try to PR at Disney.  I saw Becky towards the finish cheering on! I was happy to wave hi to her and tell her she’s the first spectator I saw of the many people I knew were there.  I finished strong; felt good.  The volunteers were so great and encouraging.  I took my picture and was really surprised at my finishing time.  Just a minute, almost 2 off my PR time.  I literally felt like I walked more than I needed to and stopped to deal with people crossing over me or let someone speedy through.  Below are my split times: 

5K        37:37    12:06 pace

10K       1:16:35 12:19 pace
15K       1:56:00 12:27 pace

Finish    2:41:55  12:21 pace

Overall, I enjoyed Disney but I know It may be a first and last for me.  I think the start time is just not for me.  I’m normally a morning person when I sleep 7 hours and get up no earlier than 6 a.m.  But getting up at 2 a.m. just threw me off maybe and I needed a serious attitude adjustment.  I was glad to see familiar faces before and after the race and snap some pictures.  I don’t entirely regret not getting any pictures on the course because I only really missed the castle and some of Epcot and I am prepared to steal someone else’s picture of it.  I really know that now, I appreciate and like small local races and I would still prefer a Rock n Roll race over any for a bigger event.  They are so well organized and I’ve never had a bad experience at one and I love music.  I think it’s also because RnR was my first half and I’ve only done 3 of their races but had so much fun.  Not a huge Disney fan and this race didn’t make me one.  Much props to the Track Shack and their awesome organization of this event.  

And yes, my favorite Disney character if I had to pick one is Pooh.