All Women & One Lucky Guy Half Marathon ..

Bethany, Kim, and I before the race

Another Half Marathon in the books for 2012, November 4 .. and the last one for the year!! The race was held in Newburyport, Ma.. was a new one to me, which I had never run before so I was pretty excited to run it. Kim was running again, and my friend Bethany was also signing up day of to run. I was excited to see Bethany since I hadn't seen her since Montreal!

 I must admit the few days leading up to the half I was not feeling very good. I was getting my workouts in throughout the week, but I just wasn't feeling A-OK, and tis the season for the colds. Cold weather is here, change of seasons, and I hadn't received my flu shot yet. 

It was an 11:00 race start so I got to sleep in a little bit, also got to push the clocks back an hour so scored an extra hour of sleep.. was perfect! Race Morning got up, had my typical pre-race meal .. oatmeal, banana, and pb.. relaxed got in the zone. Mom and I headed down to Newburyport for number pick up..it was COLD! Shirts we received were pretty cool.. nice and pink ... 




I was getting pretty nervous once the race was beginning to start.. but as soon as 11:00 hit, and the took off.. I was in the zone..well so I thought...

I had a good pace till about my 5, my 5 hit, and I thought wow, I can not finish this - it might be my first DNF, I did not feel good, legs felt heavy.. and was not my race..but I had no idea how to get back to the school.. and didn't want to get to an emergency tent.. I figured overall pace on garmin was still okk.. just push through.. so that is what I did, then the hills came, my legs felt heavier and heavier.. I had just about enough of this race! Looking at my garmin, my pace was all screwy it kept reading incorrect pace, so then I got nervous.. that my average pace was wrong.. but I kept pushing through.. and just wanted to be done. 

I kept getting closer to the finish at one point some guy yelled out.. you are the top 60 woman, so then I felt a  little better that I knew my garmin was on track .. and to push it to the end, and that is what I did. I finished with a 1:47 time, not a PR .. but I was pleased for how I was feeling, I placed 65/838 women. 10/117 in my age group. Not a bad overall day!

All donee!

One Lucky Guy!

Merrimack College Family Fun Run 5k!!

Before the Race!

This past Saturday, November 3, I ran a 5k with my sisters at Merrimack College .. Shelagh is a freshman there so it was nice to participate in a fun little event that the school was putting on, during their Homecoming Weekend! It was a COLD morning!!! 

And we are off ...

The loop for the 5k wasn't bad it was a double loop around the school campus..I stayed with Katie and pused her through the entire race, Shelagh went off and ran with a few of her friends from school. 

Shelagh and her friends!

Katie and I

The pictures above were from the first loop around .. 

Finishing!!

Done!

Katie is done!! 

It was such an awesome day, Katie and Shelagh did awesome in the race.. I was such a proud sister! Then we topped the morning off with some delicious coffee ..

A New Month ... November 1!

So excited to begin a new month .. with new goals.. and a new focus! October was a good month .. although coming off of a marathon month.. I didn't really have a focus, it was a very relaxed month. I needed it though.. after the amount of training I put into the Marathon October was what I needed. Although I did run a great race at Baystate Half Marathon which was a surprise!

During the month of October .. I have gone back and fourth so many times about different races to run coming up which I will sign up for in the future, whats next?.. and when and if I will BQ. My sister Katie wanted to run ..Rock N Roll New Orleans which has a very flat course... they have a full and half marathon. I read reviews about the marathon and they all say flat/fast. Problem I came across its Februray 24 .. and the trouble I figured I would have to train all winter for a full marathon. What if the winter is god awful? I have never trained for a winter marathon before.  Katie wants to do it.. and I couldn't miss her first half.. course is flat.. if I train hard maybe this could be it. These things kept going back and fourth in my head! I talked to a few girls from work and they are running the Disney Marathon which is in January, they say its not that bad training in the winter.. oyy oyy oyyy. At least New Orleans weather wouldn't be terrible (hopefully) on race day if I did it.. right?

Elevation of the course looks like this .. you tell me how flat this is!:

It couldn't be more perfect

Well ... needless to say after a few weeks going back and fourth and Katie saying she is doing it (regardless).. price was going up October 31st .. I signed up!! Marathon #4 - February 24!! New Orleans .. Maybe a BQ?!?! Lets try!!  If I keep my head in the game.. I am going to hope  anyway .


So .. November 1st .. I will be:

1. FOCUSED
2. Head in the game
3. Starting a strength training/condition program
4. Logging those miles
5. Nutrition Nutrition Nutrition - HEALTHY EATING

During the next few months I do have a few other races lined up (fun) .. I am running 5k with my sisters for run on Saturday at my Merrimack College for Shelagh, my other sisters Homecoming, Sunday I am running the All Women's One Lucky Guy Half Marathon in Newburyport, Thanksgiving Morning - Thanks4giving 10k, December 2, Millcities Relay, December 9 Winter Classic 5k .. Busy couple months.. should be exciting!!  Can't wait to see the changes.


I am excited for this new challenge and what the next couple months will bring... stay tuned!!