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.  

Ready for 2013!

I am so excited to get the new year going! I really did over-eat too much during the holidays but continued to work out.  I know I'll shed the few pounds in no time!

2012 was an amazing year for me.  I feel like in 2011 I became a runner when I trained and completed my first half marathon, but in 2012 I really acknowledged that I was a runner! I accomplished 4 more half marathons and joined Central Florida Women's Runners.  They've helped me get stronger as a runner and building new friendships has helped me through a lot this year.  Today my wall shines with 13 medals of accomplishments ranging from 5k, 10k, 15k and half marathon distances. 

My goal for 2013 is obviously to continue to lose more weight.  I finally got into a size 10 jeans recently! I also want to continue to cut my half marathon time down.  I haven't cut it down that much, but I'm happy with baby steps.  I think once I get my half mary time down to 2:30 I'll feel better about convincing myself to do a full marathon.  I'm not rushing though.  I really enjoy 13 miles.  It feels just right.  10 miles is perfect for me.  It's comfortable, even miles and I don't feel dead.  Anything over 13 may feel like killer at first but I know once I'm done with school it'll come easier with more time on my hands.  Right now at my slow 11:40 pace, anything over 13 miles is looking kind of long.  Next year I will finally graduate from UCF! My favorite goal!!! And I plan on taking a vacation, a running one, to somewhere-  maybe Dominican Republic.  I can visit my family while there too. 

So, those are my goals! Graduate, cut half mary time down and lose more weight.  That's easy.  I'll start thinking about a Masters degree and a full marathon towards the end of next year.  I am really super excited.  I love my life now more than anything.  Being a runner is like I'm part of a whole new world.  Nothing hurts me as much anymore.  People don't bother me as much, unless they're affecting my work out time.  Family and their comments don't hit home so much because I know what I'm capable of.  Last night before going to my family Christmas Eve dinner, I was feeling weird about what I was wearing and told my husband I was worried my mom or sister might notice the extra 5 lbs of holiday weight I put on in my dress.  And Brett replied "You run half marathons, what have they done?"  I instantly felt great in my dress.  This year I went to school full time, ran over a dozen races, continued to work full time and maintained friendships and a marriage.  I'm pretty amazing. 

Holiday halfathon

Great weekend road trip to Madiera beach with Ann and Holly! Reached my new goal of 2:40:55!! Took 4 min off my last half in Miami. Next goal 2:38....baby steps I know. I had so much fun with the girls though besides the race. We checked out local bars, beach, shops and laughed a lot! Can't wait for the next road trip.