Fools Duel Half Marathon

First Half Marathon has been completed!!

Now that training is over I kind of feel like… umm now what? Kensie and I have a 10 miler planned for this weekend to keep the millage up, but its kind of sad to be not training! I guess on to the next one. J

Anyway Jon and went to Gloucester on Friday night for the entire weekend… Saturday morning we woke up, got some breakfast, and went to the beach. Gloucester is seriously so beautiful. I need to come back to this beach during the summer. 

I LOVE this photo... 

It was probably about oh... 40 Degrees out? There was a surfer... I couldn't believe he was out there!

I was trying to get a picture of us with the beach in the background... didn't really work out. BUT I thought this picture was cute. Got to love instagram and how it can make your skin look so clear :)

Anyway we watch the Bruins at Stones  after the beach. I just want to say I loved this place. One thing that is surprisingly difficult about Metrowest Boston is finding a place that will play the sound of Bruins games. Most places around here have Triva, Music, ect... which makes sense, there are a lot of 20 & 30 something year old's living in my area, but it really does suck sometimes. We enter this bar... Bruins sound is blasting. The bar tender was personal and hilarious, wings where good and every-time the Bruins scored they would dig this giant bell. Good Place. I told my boyfriend I wanted to come during one of the Bruins playoff games ha-ha.  We actually ended up going back for a drink after dinner with the group that was with us.. 

Got to carb load right?

Anyway... Now to the Race....

The course was I would say pretty difficult...  It was extremely hilly... I remember once running up a hill, getting to the top, seeing the down hill, then the GIANT hill I had to climbed back up... its like really?? Kensie and I also ran Comm Ave (The Newton Hills) for our training, which helped a lot. If you have googled "Fools Duel Half Marathon" and reading this, run hills to train!! I couldn't tell you the amount of times I told myself during this half "I am so glad I trained on Comm Ave".  

However with that being said it was also one of the most prettiest runs I have ever been on. This course is beautiful, so if that gets you motivated, as it does me, one would be okay!. At one point when you are coming back you view is the ocean... just dark blue ocean water you can seen for miles and miles. I wanted to grab a picture but I was really focused on well.. running. 

Results:  From Racewire... 

Results from the Watch.... 

Distance:              13.00

Time:                   1:51:49

Avg Pace:             8:34 min/mi

Elevation Gain:    610 ft 

Calories:                1,074 C

On Elevation Gain: Again...that is a lot of freaking hills! SO I did some research on what that means, and its total amount of distance climbed. SO If you traveled up 5 hills  and back that were 100 feet long, you would have traveled 1,000 feet. People reading this are probably like duh... Sara. So yes, I am just figuring this out! ha-ha  Anyway. Yeah. That was a lot of hills!

The Elevation Map from my Garmin... 

Garmin Splits... 

Mile 1:                  8:32

Mile 2:                  8:01

Mile 3:                  8:17

Mile 4:                  8:24

Mile 5:                  8:43

Mile 6:                  8:27

Mile 7:                  8:31

Mile 8:                  8:41

Mile 9:                  8:42

Mile 10:                8:59

Mile 11:                8:43

Mile 12:                8:50

Mile 13:                8:58

As you can tell I started off way to fast. Mile 1 I was  like "Okay pace yourself" and still ran it faster then I wanted too. Then Mile 2 happened, and I was like "Slow down Sara... Slow Down".  I started to slow down a little come by Mile 3 and then by Mile 4 I was running the pace I wanted to run at.  This is one thing I want to work on this summer is being able to pace myself. I always start off way to fast, and I want to work on storing some of that energy for the end! 

The course was hard so I had to talk my self that I could do it the whole time.  "OMG and I said one day I would like to run a Marathon... screw that I am never running a Marathon... this is HARD".  Was actually a conversation I had with myself. Then I just kept telling myself to get to mile 10, then I would be almost there. I kept remember how easy a 5K felt after all the training, and told myself that's all you had left. I think part of it was nerves. I was so nervous the entire time I may have been running to fast, and I just kept focusing on that. I am thinking next race I am going to be able to run it a bit more relaxed. 

2 hours after the race, I decided a Marathon was still in my long term goals. It really wasn't that bad was it? ha-ha

March 24 Recap

This week I missed a lot of workouts (3) blah.

Sunday: Off (Missed going for a swim)

Monday: Missed yoga due to signing a new lease on an apartment. I tried I really did! BUT its all for exciting things to come.. so it was totally worth it! 

Tuesday: Treadmill run

Duration: 34.36

Calories: 269

Distance: 3.50

Distance Climbed: 169 Feet

Average Pace: 9:52

Wednesday: Treadmill Run

Duration: 51:06

Calories: 429

Distance: 5.41

Distance Climbed: 354 feet

Average Pace: 9:29

Thursday: Body Sculpt Class

Thursdays are normally my “workout twice day” followed by my rest day on Friday. Last Thursday Jon and I went to the Bruins game so I missed my run. I contemplated doing one of my missed days on Friday, which is normally my rest day, and I said eh screw it and went shopping.

 Ya... go Bruins! 

Then Friday I really did do some damage. I actually tried lulu stuff on for the first time. That was a bad idea... although the sports bra and tank I got there were really nice.. its just a little ridiculous what it costs!

Saturday: 12.66 mile run.

Secret to being a runner? Just never play with your Garmin buttons. I by accidently turned my automatic lap off so I didn’t get a mile by mile pace.  Also didn’t record the highest elevation but I was probably around the same as before. I am guessing the Newton Hills were the highest climbed. BUT regardless it was an awesome run.  My friend Kensie and I ran from Riverside station in Newton to the Finish line of the Boston Marathon in Boston….

Distance: 12.66 mi

Duration: 1 hour and 52 minutes.

Average Pace: 8:55 minute/mile

Calories Burned: 1,071

I love looking at our run on map... I used to think that was impossible. :)

Few pictures from the run...

Fenway...

We ran around the Boston Common a few times to get to 12...

Then we were close to the finish line and I was like lets just run it...  then I ran past the finish line so ended up running .66 more than planned. So this picture was taken long after our run after lunch.

After our lunch we had lunch on Bolyston Street while watching the Bruins game. I enjoyed at 26.2 which is Sam Adams Marathon beer. It was really good... tasted a lot like Summer Ale, Which is out now by the way? Normally I am like... way to early for that. BUT after this winter, bring the summer ale on.

March 17- Week Recap

Sunday: Swim for 1.6 Miles. Ah. Its so hard to get myself in the pool, but once I am in, I remember how much I love it. Seriously, Such a great workout that leaves you just feeling awesome later. 

Monday: Yoga

Tuesday: 3.1 Mile run on the treadmill. 

Duration: 34:28
Calories Burned: 266
Distance: 3.51 miles
Distance Climbed: 169
Average Pace: 9:48

Wednesday. 5 Mile run on the treadmill. 

Duration: 45:16 
Calories Burned: 401 
Distance: 5:02 
Distance Climbed: 265 Feet 
Average Pace: 9:00 (did not do the cool down after!)

Thursday: Body Sculpting class + 3.71 mile hill run (outside! WOOT!)

Distance: 3.71
Duration: 32.42
Pace Per Mile: 8:52
Calories Burned: 345
Elevation Gain: 147 Feet.

Mile 1:  8:38 
Mile 2:  8:35 
Mile 3:  8:59 
Mile 4:  8:45

I been running a lot of hills in preparation for this race. I joined the running group again for a run around a college campus hills. It really is such a good workout! I wont be able to do this week because I am going to he Bruins game, but I look forward to doing it in the future.  Jon and I had Friday off so after my run I had the best type of beer, post run beer.

Friday: off

Saturday: Long run: 11 Miles on Comm Ave.

Comm Ave as become Kensie and I new running stop. Its just so fun. Its challenging, a lot of runners, ect.  Anyway. This run was not one of my finest. Turns out ordering Crab Rangoons at 11:30 at night and trying to run at 8:00 the next morning is not a good mix... live and learn haha... (yes I know that's obvious).

Distance: 11.20 Miles
Time: 1:41:53
Avg Pace: 9:06 min/mi
Elevation Gain: 495 Feet I think its a 140 feet climb if I understand all this stuff correctly.
Calories Burned 9:23

Mile 1: 9:13
Mile 2: 8:23
Mile 3: 10:10
Mile 4: 9:00
Mile 5: 8:58
Mile 6: 9:48
Mile 7: 9:26
Mile 8: 8:42
Mile 9: 8:39
Mile 10: 8:56
Mile 11: 8:56
Mile 12 (.20 miles): 8:56

I started off feeling good, then I felt my stomach hated me and told me with cramps, then I got rid of said cramps. I didn't feel great during this run at all. BUT at the end I was glad I could push through regardless finish strong with all under 9 minute miles. My number one goal for the half marathon is to have all my mile under 9:00 expect maybe the first one.

Last long run this weekend! 12 miles!!

City Views

This weekend I knew what I had to do. 8 Miles. My training has now caught up to me and I am on schedule instead of ahead of schedule, so there is no more bailing out now. Hopefully no more cold/sinus headaches/ and fevers are in my future.  This past weekend I had a sinus headache on one side of my head. It was right above the eye behind the eyebrow. It went away Sunday after I took some Ibuprofen and has only came make to a very slight sinus headache. Figures crossed it does not turn into what it was cause that was unpleasant.

This weekend was fun. Our typical Friday night consisted of us going to happy hour after work and then both asleep on the couch by 10:00.  On Saturday Jon and I were dog sitting so took him for a little hike up Prospect Hill Park. Which is a great little hike/running area.

There was some of the hill that was plowed because its pavement, but the majority of the park sill had a lot of snow so we couldn't see the side in which Boston was on, but still a lot of fun. Saturday night we went out in town and met up with an old friend to watch the Duke vs Cuse game. Well lets just say it was not a good week to be a Cuse fan. They lost to both BC which was a huge upset and then lost to Duke again this weekend. Womp Womp.

Then Sunday morning came, 8 miles. Ug. I hadn't taken the Ibprofen at this point, which if I knew it would have worked as well as it had I would have. You live and you learn I guess. You know those runs where start out on mile one, you look down at your watch expecting to round mile 2 and you are at like .30 miles. That's how this run started for me. Every time my feet hit the pavement my head just was pounding along with my pace.  I was wondering how I was going to finish. Then around miles 2-5 I felt as though I could run my half that day. Although with views like this... its hard not to be motivated.

The around mile 6-7.5 I had the worst running stitch. Ug. Those are the worst. I was trying really hard to ignore it but it just wasn't happening. I was pissed because up to the point my pace for running the 8 miles was 9:15 which would get me right around 2 hours for a Half Marathon, which is my goal. I ended up with a pace of 9.39, which is just over my goal by 3 minutes or so.

Mile 1: 8:59 min/mile 
Mile 2: 10:04 min/mile *oh hi ice, snow and slush
Mile 3: 9:42 min/ mile 
Mile 4: 8:44 min/mile 
Mile 5: 8:52 min/ mile 
Mile 6: 9:07 min/ mile 
Mile 7: 11:05 min/mile *oh hi ice, snow and slush, and running stitches.
Mile 8: 10:38 min/mile 

Over all I was happy with that run though even though my pace was all over the place. Who runs a 8:44 mile then a 11:05 mile? BUT it felt good to get back out there after taking a weekend off from my longer runs.  Training is really starting to ramp up now, I am getting pretty pumped about doing this half!  I just wish it would start feeling like spring!! How awesome is it going to be when these pictures are no longer of the Charles River frozen over? Warm thoughts, which are going to be needed because the polar vortex is back.

So It Begins...

This weekend was a good one, the Patriots won on Saturday night... woohoo! Now we face the Broncos which I am nervous about. Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady. Should be good!

Anyway Saturday morning I had my body sculpt class, she is so good! There were 32 people in the class last week... there were people following her from the hallway. It was nuts. 

Sunday Morning I went for a 6.2 Mile run with my friend Kensie. It was such a good day for an out door run, although a bit windy. 

The views were so pretty though! I missed running this route... it felt good to be back!

I forgot my running watch which I was so disappointed but I used my Run Keeper instead...

Miles: 6.20

Time:  57:29

Pace Per Mile: 9:17

Calories: 551 

Splits:

Mile 1: 8:44

Mile 2: 9:34

Mile 3: 9:44 

Mile 4: 9:17 

Mile 5: 8:49 

Mile 6: 9:28 

Mile 7 (.20 Miles): at a 9:32 pace. 

I am looking forward to getting back out there next weekend! :) It feels so good to be able to run outside. Also Half Marathon Training officially begins! 

Revised Training...

I am not really sure I what I was thinking when I put that plan together ha-ha... That would be WAY to hard to maintain. I think when I put it together... I was thinking... When am I going to swim? So I had to include it in there... weirdo.

I revised my training plan a bit and here it is....

Its its basically what the Hal Higdon Training program recommends here and here. I just made two modifications. One I really like my body sculpt class in the morning so I am keeping that on Thursday and Sunday mornings! I decided I can swim some Saturdays instead of my class and some Wednesdays instead of my run if I feel like it.

I am also going to need to be flexible. If the weather calls for a beautiful Saturday and a like -2 degree Sunday I am going to flip my long run to Saturday and do a swim on Sunday instead. I also changed what I would for a run on Thursdays. Doing a 5 mile run after already working out that day seems a bit extreme. When I was training for my 10k I would do a small run after I got home from work and it really fit in well! :)

So I hope it works. I would be really nervous only running 10 miles as my longest run before the race... although I am sure it would be fine. If I can run 10 miles then I probably could run 13.2! :) So I decided the plan increasing per mile by week would be best. I am also a little nervous only running over 3 miles one other day of the week. BUT if the increasing the miles each weak becomes harder then I will revisit.

I just need to trust the training! I remember while the 10k training hurt at times my body always felt ready for the next step. :)

So so far this is it.... until I change my mind again!

Only Half Crazy (for now)

So…

My friend Kensie (who I ran the Tufts Healthcare Plan for Women 10K with) signed up for a Half Marathon on April 6th. I am extremely nervous, excited and feeling good about this. 

My worries? I am thinking how am I going to train for this? The majority of my training is going be dark and cold (New England Winter). I am going to need some outdoor flashy running gear and I hope I don't wimp out training because of the weather.  My Christmas wish is quit long with outdoor running gear ;)

Then I think to myself... what is the worst that can happen? You are going to PR because it’s your first half marathon... so any time is your best. Also it’s okay if I cannot RUN it all.... I can walk. I just have to listen to my body and if I need to stop I need to stop. 

As for training programs I think I have settled on this one….

My plan is to be flexible during the weekends, which may mean sometimes missing my favorite fitness class. L BUT if the weather is going to be ridiculously better Saturday, I will do my long run Saturday… but either way it’s going to be a cold one!

Average Temperatures in Boston

January:

·        Average High: 36 Degrees

·        Average Low:  22 Degrees

February

·        Average High: 39 Degrees

·        Average Low:  25 Degrees

March

·        Average High: 45 Degrees

·        Average Low:  31 Degrees

I am excited for March. I think that is going to be one of my favorite times to run, which will be good because I have so long ass runs planned! 10, 11 and 12 miles. I have never ran longer than 6 for my 10k so this will be interesting! 

BUT I like this... and just have to keep this in mind...