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.