It was pouring, I was cold and drenched. I wondered if my phone and ipod were gonna die. I turned the music louder and ran wild. Laughing, leaping, wringing out the water, shaking my head....feeling more and more liberated with every step. Cars were splashing water all over me, the road was flooded. The rain fell harder and harder. I ran fast and reckless. It was fucking amazing. #runlove #runfree #wild&43
And I hate to run in the rain. I guess I was wrong.
Friday, November 20, 2015
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Half Marathon PR! 11.15.15
Guess who PRd her 18th Half Marathon today by 3 minutes?!!
This 43 year old chick!
I went into this race feeling good and running strong. I knew I didn't train for a sub 2 but I was hoping that I would get a faster time. I did all my normal pre-race routines and was feeling good the morning of. When the gun sounded I went with my strategy of staying at sub 10 as long as I could and running on the edge. I started out strong and saw the normal runners that I have been pacing with for the entire series. As I ran up Diamond Head road I had a tough time with the wind that was blowing stronger than usual. I told myself to stay mentally engaged and stay close with the people I pace with. I took my first gel at the 2nd water stop at the Gas Station and continued to push. About a quarter of a mile onto Kalanianaole I started to see the lead runners. Their times seemed slow as well and it was awhile before I saw the first woman. I tried my best to follow behind bigger runners to combat the wind but that didn't help either and so I just willed myself to stay on pace until the turn around.
At the turn around I immediately felt a rush and it became easier to run without the wind pushing me back. Unforutnately, my callouses and new blisters began to throb. I had never had blister issues in past racing seasons so I am not sure why all of a sudden they're becoming an issue at every race. As I was running I saw my buddy Darren who told me, "Don't let me catch you!" and I took that with me for the rest of the race. It was exact what I need to hear. I needed to up the intensity and go for negative splits. No regrets! Anyhow, I continued to push on and keeping certain runners in sight. I didn't feel like I had the energy or strength to pass them with 6 more miles to go so I told myself just to not lose them. I ran well on Kalanianaole and as I turned on to Kahala for my challenging finish I took my 2nd gel.
This stretch has always been a mental challenge for me no matter what distance the race is so I tried to keep as mentally focussed as possible. I kept my target runner within distance and powered up the hill to Diamond Head. As I began to climb I reminded myself that this is my strength and it was now or never. I began to run as hard as I could up and as hard as I could down.I didn't dare turn around but it was a good thing because I told myself to run hard so that she couldn't catch me.
As I ran to the finish and entered Kapiolani Park I saw that I was under the 2 hour minute mark. If I could run a 6 minute mile I would be able to get that sub 2. I knew I couldn't and I decided to stop the negative thoughts and instead embrace the fact that I was going to PR. It was just a matter of by how much. It was starting to get hot and I wasn't exactly sure what I had in reserve so I ran pretty conservatively but as I approached the Tennis Courts I gave it my all. I could see the finishing clock and I could see that I was going to be able to post a 2:01 time. I gave it everything I had and finished with a 2:01.47. Yes, a few regrets and a lot of thinking about how I could have knocked off 1:48 in my race but also a lot of excitement because knocking off 15 seconds per mile is totally doable for me and my dream is becoming closer to reality.
After the race I ran 2 slow miles for my LSD and the blisters were killing me. I will need to experiment with some different socks this weekend. With three 3 weeks til the Honolulu Marathon I am feeling completely happy with my training and getting more and more excited to run my 7th Full Marathon. :)
This 43 year old chick!
I went into this race feeling good and running strong. I knew I didn't train for a sub 2 but I was hoping that I would get a faster time. I did all my normal pre-race routines and was feeling good the morning of. When the gun sounded I went with my strategy of staying at sub 10 as long as I could and running on the edge. I started out strong and saw the normal runners that I have been pacing with for the entire series. As I ran up Diamond Head road I had a tough time with the wind that was blowing stronger than usual. I told myself to stay mentally engaged and stay close with the people I pace with. I took my first gel at the 2nd water stop at the Gas Station and continued to push. About a quarter of a mile onto Kalanianaole I started to see the lead runners. Their times seemed slow as well and it was awhile before I saw the first woman. I tried my best to follow behind bigger runners to combat the wind but that didn't help either and so I just willed myself to stay on pace until the turn around.
At the turn around I immediately felt a rush and it became easier to run without the wind pushing me back. Unforutnately, my callouses and new blisters began to throb. I had never had blister issues in past racing seasons so I am not sure why all of a sudden they're becoming an issue at every race. As I was running I saw my buddy Darren who told me, "Don't let me catch you!" and I took that with me for the rest of the race. It was exact what I need to hear. I needed to up the intensity and go for negative splits. No regrets! Anyhow, I continued to push on and keeping certain runners in sight. I didn't feel like I had the energy or strength to pass them with 6 more miles to go so I told myself just to not lose them. I ran well on Kalanianaole and as I turned on to Kahala for my challenging finish I took my 2nd gel.
This stretch has always been a mental challenge for me no matter what distance the race is so I tried to keep as mentally focussed as possible. I kept my target runner within distance and powered up the hill to Diamond Head. As I began to climb I reminded myself that this is my strength and it was now or never. I began to run as hard as I could up and as hard as I could down.I didn't dare turn around but it was a good thing because I told myself to run hard so that she couldn't catch me.
As I ran to the finish and entered Kapiolani Park I saw that I was under the 2 hour minute mark. If I could run a 6 minute mile I would be able to get that sub 2. I knew I couldn't and I decided to stop the negative thoughts and instead embrace the fact that I was going to PR. It was just a matter of by how much. It was starting to get hot and I wasn't exactly sure what I had in reserve so I ran pretty conservatively but as I approached the Tennis Courts I gave it my all. I could see the finishing clock and I could see that I was going to be able to post a 2:01 time. I gave it everything I had and finished with a 2:01.47. Yes, a few regrets and a lot of thinking about how I could have knocked off 1:48 in my race but also a lot of excitement because knocking off 15 seconds per mile is totally doable for me and my dream is becoming closer to reality.
After the race I ran 2 slow miles for my LSD and the blisters were killing me. I will need to experiment with some different socks this weekend. With three 3 weeks til the Honolulu Marathon I am feeling completely happy with my training and getting more and more excited to run my 7th Full Marathon. :)
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