Scorcher Half Marathon Recap

Hi y'all! This summer has been flying by and we've been spending the majority of it at the pool and I've been running like always! :) Colton starts Kindergarten in August so we have been trying to spend as much time as possible together. I might be having some separation anxiety and I really can't believe he is already old enough to be in school!  So the blog has kind of been put on hold for a little bit but I've got some time while dinner cooks so I thought I would pop in and update y'all.

Most of you know that my big running goal this year is to run 14 half marathons. Well I am half way there. In June I ran my 7th half, The Scorcher Run in Stillwater, Oklahoma. A running friend-Hi Sheila!-sent me the info on this run and I knew I needed a half marathon for June so I was in!

I had originally planned on driving up the morning of the race but at the last minute I decided to go up the night before and spend the night in Oklahoma City. So in true fashion of how my races go, they were predicting pretty strong storms for race morning. After running through potential tornadoes and below freezing this past year I wasn't really worried. I figured I was due a run in the rain!

When I woke up race morning I looked out the window and it was pouring! 

It had stopped a little by the time I got to Stillwater but I knew what was coming so I got out my super cool blue poncho and tried to stay dry until the race started. I loved that packet pick up was at a stadium so we had real bathrooms. It's the little things! The race was delayed for a little bit while they waited for a thunderstorm to pass so I was more than ready to get going.  It was still raining pretty hard once we started and it was actually kind of chilly.  I was so worried about running a half in June and how hot it would be, but it turned out to be not hot at all!

The biggest problem once we started running was the huge puddles on the ground.  I really didn't want to get my feet soaked before I was a mile in but there really was no avoiding it.  At this point it had been raining for well over two hours and was still pouring. Eventually I just gave up and ran right through the water.  The first couple of miles were pretty uneventful.  I ran into a couple of friends I knew from Instagram and that was fun! I just kept going and the only real problem was my freaking headphones.  I was completely soaked so they would not stay in.  It was driving me crazy.  I had never ran a half marathon without music but it was looking like I was going to get to try it out.  I eventually gave up and just took them out.  The best surprise was the volunteers. I thought that since the rain was coming down so hard that there might not be a lot of support along the course but it was completely the opposite.  There were water stops every mile and the people were so much fun and were so nice!

Around mile 6ish we were supposed to make a right turn.  Honestly, I was pretty far in the back so I was just following these two ladies in front of me and not really paying attention to where we were supposed to be going.  They had said there would be arrows on the pavement but I figured there would always be someone in front of me I could follow.  This guy started yelling that I was going the wrong way and I missed a turn.  I must have looked surprised because he said "I promise, just trust me!" He said follow me and I'll show you where to turn.  So I followed along and sure enough there was a arrow on the pavement and I had missed it.  I ran an extra half of a mile which I didn't really care about at the time but it turned out to be kind of a big deal.

So it was still raining and at this point it wasn't possible for me to get any wetter so I just embraced it and moved on with the run.  Around mile 9 I started talking to the two ladies who were ahead of me.  Turns out several people had tried to tell them they had missed the same turn but they just kept going.  They ran an extra mile before they finally turned around! We decided to run the rest of the race together and it was so much fun! I had never really ran with people who were the same pace and I loved it. It made me wish I had a running partner.  They were from Tulsa and we talked forever about how rough the marathon was at Route 66.  It turns out they had done most of the same races so we had plenty to talk about.  They made the last 4 miles go by so much faster and I almost forgot that it was still pouring down rain!

As we got to the finish line I realized that I would've been so close to a PR if I hadn't ran an extra half of a mile but oh well!  I was a little disappointed that there wasn't any food at the finish line, not even a banana, nothing.  I grabbed my water bottle, said goodbye to my running partners, and took off to the car.  I was so ready to get some dry clothes on!

So close to a PR!

Overall the Scorcher Run was a good race, especially for the first year.  The volunteers and course support was amazing.  A sign at the right turn we were supposed to make would have been nice but I probably should have been paying better attention!

My next race isn't until September and then I have a ton in October and November.  I'm running my first back to back in November.  I have a half marathon on a Saturday and then another one on a Sunday! I'm really excited for it to be fall already.  I wish there were more half marathons around here in the summer. I'm out running anyway so I might as well run a half right?!?

What's been going in your world? Anybody run any exciting races lately?

Joplin Memorial half marathon recap

It's been a while! I've kind of been in a blogging slump lately. It's not that I feel like I don't have anything to say but it's more like it was starting to feel like one more thing to add to my to do list.  Anyway that's another post for another day! Today I wanted to recap my half marathon from last weekend before I forget all the details!

A couple of months ago I saw a picture of the half marathon medal on Instagram and I loved it! I looked up the race and I was even more excited when I saw that they had race day packet pick up. Trying to do 14 half marathons this year can get kind of expensive when you have to travel so whenever there is a race that is sort of close I jump on it!

I had to be in Joplin by 5:30 at the latest to pick up my packet and it is a 2+ hour drive from our house so my alarm was set for 2 AM!

I made it in plenty of time and I actually had time to go and sit back in the car and eat my tortillas and cheese. The weather was perfect at the start.  It wasn't too hot at the beginning but I knew it would probably get a lot warmer before we were done.  We were supposed to start at 6:30 and right before the start they let off balloons for each of the victims of the 2011 tornado.

The course seemed so much less crowded after running OKC just a couple of weeks ago.  I actually had room to move! The first couple of miles were pretty flat and uneventful.  We ran by neighborhoods that were completely flattened by the tornado and it was so surreal to see just the foundation on the ground where you knew a house had once stood.  There would be huge tall trees on one side of the street and then not a single tree on the other side. Growing up in Arkansas it is kind of a requirement that you are familiar with tornadoes and the destruction that they can cause.  It is almost a rite of passage when you are a kid to spend your first night in a hallway with a mattress over your head.  I remember spending an entire afternoon when I was in Kindergarten under a table because there was a tornado warning for our area.  But it is a completely different experience when you see the devastation first hand.  Especially when the area is still being rebuilt even 3 years later. The neighborhoods that were completely wiped out had the most crowd support.  A lot of the people who had lost their homes and loved ones were out on the course and cheering all the runners on.  

This was one of the hardest hit neighborhoods.

Around mile 3 was when it got rough. I had asked David the night before if Joplin was hilly or flat and he said he thought it was pretty flat.  This would be about the time that I sent him a text to let him know he was a liar!

I sent him this picture when I finished of the elevation profile.  At least I feel like I wasn't completely crazy and there really wasn't any flat stretches!

I love how you can see how uphill this part of the course is!

I just kept pushing on even though the humidity was getting crazy and it literally felt like I was swimming through the air instead of running through it.  The race did an amazing job with plenty of water stations and many of the stations had cold towels which is the best idea ever! I really started to struggle at mile 10.  The sun was out and all the clouds were gone by then and it was just hot! Plus I had the added bonus of a messed up ankle.  The night before I was walking into a restaurant to get our dinner and fell in a hole and twisted my ankle.  Of course because of my crazy weak ankles from spraining it so many times during softball in my teens the swelling  was pretty immediate.  It looked like I had a golf ball under my sock.  I was glad it hadn't bothered me until mile 10 but it made the last 3 miles pretty miserable.

I'm only smiling because I was almost done!

The finish line was so much fun! They wait until every single person crosses the finish line before they hand out the age group awards so all of the super fast and mid pack runners were still hanging around when all of us in the back of the pack showed up.  They were lining the route and giving us all high fives.  That never happens when I finish! At this race they give the absolute last person an award and they get a red lantern to take home.  I was actually kind of hoping I would be last but I knew there were several people behind me.

They had the absolute best food for a finish line! There were Panera bagels and they actually had some left! If you finish in the back of the pack you know how big of a deal that is! They also had Quizno's sandwiches and Qdoba soup. I was so excited! :)

I finally hobbled back to the car and headed home.  I will definitely run Joplin next year.  I love the medal and the race director did an amazing job! I went into this race not really expecting a lot but it ended up being one of my favorite races.  I didn't come close at all to setting a PR or even doing as well as OKC two weeks ago but I'm ok with that! They can't all be easy or PRs!

Did anyone else run the Joplin Memorial Run? What did you think?

Friday Five: things I love about the running community

It's Friday boys and girls! Before I get to today's post remember to be sure to check out my Bondi Band giveaway! That means it's time for another Friday Five hosted by the DC trifecta!  Be sure to check out Mar on the Run, Eat Pray Run DC, and You Signed up for WHAT!

When I first started running I had no idea that there was a running community.  Sure I knew there were other runners but honestly I didn't see that many of them! After Boston last year I really began to realize just how amazing and supportive other runners are. So here are my top five things that I love about the running community...

1. Runners are each other's biggest cheerleaders! I love when you get close to the finish of a race and the runners who have already finished are cheering on the rest of us. We understand how important goals are and we also understand how upsetting it can be when you miss that PR by seconds! Whether you are having a great day or a not so great day other runners will be there to cheer you on.

This image from the Boston marathon last month is a perfect example of everything I love about the running community!

2. We will never judge anyone on what their running clothes look like. There is nothing crazy about seeing a guy in neon running shoes or a woman in a tutu! Both are completely normal in the running community and encouraged. And if anyone criticizes those choices we will jump in to defend any runner. I'm pretty sure Self magazine learned that the hard way!

                                     

I feel like it is my responsibility to be as bright as possible!

3.We talk about the important things in life like which course will get me a half marathon PR or which races have the best medals! I mean really is there anything else that is more fun to discuss? Also no topic is off limits. Want to discuss your lack of toenails or the time you had to hide behind tree? Go ahead!

4. We support each other's individuality. You like to run marathons? Great! You prefer 5Ks? Awesome! The running peeps do not care! We only care that you run! It doesn't matter if that is in a group or solo or 7 times a week or 3. Just run!

5. My favorite thing about the running community is the complete strangers that have turned into some of my best friends.  Our conversations always started about running and now we can share anything!  Running is the best conversation starter and for a girl who can sometimes be a little socially awkward!

What is your favorite thing about the running community?

OKC Memorial Half Marathon recap

I wanted to start off today by saying I'm sending all my thoughts and love to central Arkansas. They had devastating tornadoes last night and the number of those injured and killed just keeps climbing.  It's just horrible.  I grew up playing softball in Vilonia during the summer and have many friends in the Mayflower area so seeing the devastation and actually knowing the streets they are talking about has been unreal. So many homes in Vilonia were just finishing the rebuilding process from a tornado in 2011 and now they are destroyed again.  It's just heartbreaking. I was up pretty late last night watching the storms as they moved through here and then checking on friends in central Arkansas so if this recap rambles a little bit I blame it on my sleep deprived mind!

Yesterday I finished half marathon number 5 of 2014 and it was certainly one of those races that leaves an impression! I did the Oklahoma City Memorial half marathon last year and absolutely loved it! The course and the volunteers are amazing and the reason behind the race is so meaningful.  I love how much effort the race officials put into making sure to remember what happened 19 years ago and go above and beyond to make sure the 168 people who lost their lives are remembered. Probably two of my favorite things about this race is the 168 seconds of silence at the beginning and the banners that line the course with the names of the victims.  It really is special!

Not the best picture but you can see the banner hanging from the light pole.

So all week long they had been forecasting severe weather. The storms that eventually caused so much damage in central Arkansas were supposed to start right around Oklahoma City and then make their way to Arkansas. I had gotten several emails from race officials about what their plan was to make sure we were all safe so I had no worries about driving up there and running the race. The race starts pretty early at 6:30 so I got up at 4 and took a quick shower and made it downtown by about 5.  I had checked the radar as soon as I woke up and there wasn't a single storm around! I couldn't believe our luck! Even as late as Saturday night they were still forecasting thunderstorms with hail for early morning.  Well of course literally the minute I got out of my car I saw lightening way off in the distance.  I decided to go ahead and walk to the start line because I needed to find the port-a-potties! On the way it started to rain a little but stopped just as fast. I watched a little bit of the sunrise service and then started the walk to my corral.

At 6:00 the race announcer came on and said that they had decided to delay the race start by 30 minutes because of storms moving in.  So I just stood around and then not 3 minutes later they came back on and said we needed to get to the shelter that was closest to our area right then.  Thankfully I had lined up right by a parking garage that I knew was one of the designated shelters so everyone around took off running to get there.

I made it in but it still wasn't doing anything outside.  I could still see some lightening but that was it.  Probably the most frustrating thing about the entire situation was that my phone wouldn't work so I couldn't check the radar or let anyone know what was going on.  Everyone in the shelter kept trying to pull up the radar, facebook, or twitter to check to see what exactly was coming towards us.  We were far enough away from the corrals that we couldn't hear any announcements so we had no clue if it was just a strong storm coming or a tornado.  It was a little crazy/scary for a while.  Thankfully I had text David right before we ran to the shelter and let him know that they had delayed the start by 30 minutes and I was ok.

I got this text after we finally made it out and I had phone service again. It was a pretty strong storm!

It finally started to rain pretty hard and the wind was crazy but that was it.  By this time it was around 7:30 and people were starting to wonder if we would even get to run.  Every once in a while there would be someone who would come in and let us know that it had been delayed another 30 minutes or another 15 minutes.  I had just about had enough of being stuck in a dark parking garage with a ton of people. There was probably about 2,000 people crammed in there all together.  It was fun...

Combined with my dislike for having people super close and not being a fan of dark damp places this was not my idea of a good time but I'm glad they had somewhere planned to keep us safe!

At 8:00 everyone started walking out and getting ready to line up.  No sooner had I made it out about 10 steps that it started raining and storming harder than it had all morning. So back to the garage we all went but not before getting completely soaked first.  Finally at 8:10 we were told we were going to be starting at 8:20.  It was hilarious to watch us all come out. We were convinced that the minute we stepped out of the parking garage we would have to run back in.

I text David to let him know I was ok and he told me that our race had been all over the news because of the bad weather so he had known what was going on and figured I had made it to one of the shelters! When we finally started at 8:20 I was so ready to run just to warm up.  I was completely soaked from the time we came out only to have to run back in and my feet were freezing.  I knew my wet socks could be an issue later but there was nothing I could do about it now.

All 26,000 of us ready to start!

The first couple of miles were rough.  I was already hungry because I had planned on being almost finished by now and not just starting! It was super humid outside because of all the storms.  It felt like I was running through thick air and I couldn't catch my breath.  Welcome to running in humidity! The course was crazy crowded because they hadn't waited as long as they usually do to start the 5K so it was packed.  Finally we split from the 5K and it was so much better.  Around mile 4 the sky started to clear up and I actually saw blue sky! Miles 5-8 I felt great! When I was struggling so much in the beginning I lowered my run intervals to save some energy in case it was rough for all 13 miles and that helped so much. I changed my intervals back up and was feeling awesome. The volunteers all along the course are the best.  They were handing out all kinds of food. I had an apple, 2 oranges, a bunch of pretzels, and a banana all while I was running.  My all time favorite thing that they hand out at this race are the cold sponges.  

Best thing ever!

The sun was now out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky so it was hot. (Oklahoma/Arkansas weather is so bipolar in the spring-we went from storms to a cloudless beautiful day within 2 hours)

From storms to blue sky

Around mile 9 I was getting super frustrated.  Besides the huge blister I was getting from wet socks, there were people that were walking everywhere. I don't mind at all that they were walking but when you take up the entire street and I feel like I'm playing Frogger to try to get around everyone it's annoying.  Plus then the walkers started to move over to the lanes reserved for the marathon runners.  The marathon peeps at this point are super fast and I just kept waiting for someone to get hurt.  I also kept getting extremely frustrated with the people who were doing run/walk. Obviously I don't care that they are doing that since it's what I do also, but if you are doing run/walk for the love of all things please don't go from running to a complete stop right in front of me! I actually ran right into two ladies who just completely stopped and never bothered to look if anyone was behind them.  It was just so frustrating.  I felt like I could never get in a good groove because I had to keep dodging people and making sure I wasn't going to run right into someone.

I finally saw the finish and just sprinted because I was ready to be done.  I felt great but it had been a long day and I was just done. It was not even close to a PR but I finished over 20 minutes faster than last year so I'll take it! I got my medal and got a text from David that they were thinking the storms around us would start around 4 so I needed to either stay in OKC for a while or get on the road. I walked quickly back to the car and made it home in plenty of time.

This race is still one of my favorites that I do! The race director and everyone handled the delays and crazy weather so great! They had a plan and made sure we were safe and once we finally got to start it was a beautiful day.  The volunteers were amazing and stayed out there an extra two hours because of the delays. If you ever get the change to run the OKC Memorial race you have to do it! And hopefully the weather won't be so crazy next year!

I've got a giveaway on Wednesday so make sure to check it out! Hope y'all are having a great Monday!

Did anyone else run OKC this weekend or any other race?

Gulf Coast half marathon recap

Hi y'all! Sorry I'm posting a day late! We got back to Arkansas late Sunday night.  And in true Arkansas fashion we had to dodge tornadoes to make it home. I spent all Monday trying to get caught up on everything! I ran half marathon #4 of 2014 Sunday so I thought I would recap the race for y'all today!

I had always wanted to one of the races in the Gulf Coast series! I was so excited that we would be at Pensacola Beach during the one there! I mean the course is along the beach so I was in. :) The race started at 7 in the morning which was the earliest I had started all year.  It was rough getting up that early but I need to get used to it since my next races start just as early!

David was so excited when I bought this shirt to run in! 

So I finally managed to drag myself out of bed Sunday morning and drove the mile to the start of the race.  It was so nice to be so close to the starting line! There wasn't a big crowd at all when I got there so I just sat in my car for a while and made sure to eat an apple.  I didn't have my normal pre-race breakfast of tortillas and cheese because we didn't have any and I definitely paid for it later.  I was hungry by mile 5!

I took this picture right before I lined up to start. Not a bad view!

So blogger fail...I forgot to take a picture of the starting line but here is one from the race's website!

I lined up towards the back and we were off.  As usual the first 2-3 miles are not my favorite.  I just can never find my groove that early on in a race. The first couple of miles we literally ran right by the ocean.  I made sure to not even have my headphones in just so I could hear the waves.  It was great! I really started feeling good around mile 4.  I couldn't believe that I was feeling so great especially considering all the things I had done wrong the week leading up to the race! Around mile 5 we headed out on a road that doesn't have any condos or houses and it was so peaceful.  I had been running on this stretch for the entire month and it was awesome.  There were great views and you could hear the waves.  It was definitely my favorite part of the course.  Just imagine that there are some really great pictures of the ocean here because I of course forgot to take any! :)

I started to feel a little tired and very hungry after mile 9.  My apple had worn off a long time ago but thank goodness I had my magic gummy bears! Those things keep me going! I just kept telling myself to keep running because I knew after mile 10 we would be turning on our street and David and Colton were waiting at our house! David had send me a text asking if I needed any water and when I rounded the corner and saw my boys I was so excited. I could tell the exact moment when Colton recognized me because he started pointing and jumping up and down.  It was so cute! I ran up to them and David wins the best husband of the week award because he had a cold washcloth for me! The temperature was around 80 so it was pretty hot. The washcloth was the best thing in the world.  I left the house and felt great and ready to finish strong.  

The next 3 miles were pretty uneventful.  We ran by the bay for a while and eventually made our way back to the main road and the finish line.  I crossed the finish and got a really cool medal and a glass with the race logo on it! I love the glass! (I would post a picture but it's buried in a random suitcase right now and I can't find it!) For a cheaper race the finish line swag was awesome.  There was a big party at the restaurant next door but I skipped it. I knew I needed to get home so I could shower and we could get on the road to Arkansas! My only goal was to have fun and finish so I was happy with that!

I looked at the data in my car real quick and I saw this: 

I was pretty excited about it being such a strong race for me!

I love my medal! Both races that I did while we were in Florida had a bottle opener on the medal.  Is this a thing in Florida? It's not a bad idea!

Random side note: I have never seen so much cheating in a race as I did on Sunday! I have no idea what was going on but I can remember at least 5 different people that I saw cut the course short.  I just don't get it! You are only cheating yourself.  Two women cut across a sidewalk and jumped ahead two streets and cut off about a mile and a half early on during the course.  And then several times when we were on the out and back portion there were people who switched sides and just kept going like it was no big deal.  I guess I can maybe understand if you are injured but they kept running and never missed a beat. It's just strange to me. Why even start if you don't want to finish the entire 13.1 miles?

After I finished and we were on our way home I started thinking about how different this Florida trip was then the time we went to Gulf Shores about 4 years ago.  The last thing I would have ever done back then was run 2 half marathons while on vacation! It's crazy to think how different I am now.  4 years ago I was ridiculously uncomfortable, tried to hide my body in anything I could find, and thought people who ran at the beach were crazy.  Fast forward to now and I was confident enough to wear a bikini and run almost every day! It's those moments that make all the hard work worth it!

I would definitely recommend the Gulf Coast half marathon! The course was great and I loved all the stuff I got at the finish line! I've got the Oklahoma City Memorial half marathon coming up in two weeks and I'm going to try to be really hardcore in preparing for that one.  I would love to get another sub 3 finish but I know I've got to fuel my body better than I have been if I want that to happen! This is one of my favorite races so I can't wait!

Did any of y'all have a great race or training run this weekend? 

Rock n Fly Half Marathon Recap

Hi y'all! I hope everyone had a great weekend! We had some crazy storms on Friday and Saturday morning but the rest of the weekend was perfect.  It was actually pretty cool to watch the storm come across the ocean! We all went to the beach yesterday and spent the entire day and it was so much fun.  A girl could get used to the beach life! :) Saturday I ran my 3rd half marathon of 2014 so I wanted to share my recap.

When we found out that we were going to be in Florida I think it took me all of 6 seconds to start looking for half marathons to do while we are here! I found the Rock n Fly and immediately signed up.  It was the first year that they were going to do the race but it looked like a lot of fun and was pretty cheap so I figured why not! The race was at the Naval Air Station and I loved that they had pictures of the Blue Angels on the medal ribbon and I loved the idea of supporting the military! The "rock" part of the race was pretty cool too! They were going to have different music playing at each mile.

The day before the race on Friday we drove to downtown Pensacola to pick up my race packet.  It was still raining and had rained hard all day.  The forecast for Saturday morning was not looking so great. They were predicting that at the start it would still be raining.  Rain isn't an ideal race day for me but it is tolerable.  I just really didn't want to run through a thunderstorm or have them cancel the race because of lightening! I got my packet and we headed back home.  That night we went out to eat and I had the most amazing pasta dish ever.  The cheese tortellini was so good! The only problem was that I ordered the smaller portion and after I thought about I probably should have ordered the regular.  It just wasn't that much food so I was worried I would be hungry the next day.

I would have licked the plate if that was considered socially acceptable!

Late that night we got word that they were going to postpone the start of the race an hour so we would be starting at 9:00.  The hope was that all the rain would be gone.  So that morning I woke up and it was still raining and thundering a lot! I got up and by the time I left the house the sun was shining! I was so happy I wouldn't have to run in the rain. 

I was planning on wearing this but I changed my mind and decided to wear a tank top.  I'm so glad I did since it was pretty hot during the race.

I got parked and made my way to the long, long, line for bathrooms.  While I was in line I started talking to a guy who was in the Navy and stationed at Pensacola.  He was training to be a pilot and had so much cool information.  He told several of us where we would be running and all about his training.  I finally got to the bathroom and had to run to the corrals to get to the start in time.  The national anthem was played by a guy on the electric guitar and it was amazing.  After a video from the Blue Angels we were off!

The first couple of miles are never my best.  It just takes me a while to get settled in to a great pace and relaxed.  I was struggling with some really tight calves and I have no idea why! I just kept hoping that eventually they would relax and I wouldn't be in pain the entire 13 miles.  We ran past the museum and the Pensacola lighthouse and the course was great so far.  By mile 4 I felt much better and around this time we started running by the ocean.  It was a great view! I felt amazing through mile 8 but that is when my stomach really started bothering me.  I had my standard tortillas and cheese for breakfast but late the night before I realized that I didn't have any gummy bears.  I always use gummy bears for fuel during any race longer than 8 miles.  They just give me that extra sugar that I need for those last miles.  When I started struggling at mile 8 I knew the last miles would be interesting. 

We ran by the Naval Air Museum twice!

Not the best picture but Colton is obsessed with the lighthouse so I tried to get him a picture while I was running!

I kept on running even though at one point my stomach was growling so loud I didn't know if it was my run/walk timer vibrating or my stomach! It was ridiculous and a little embarrassing! The positive is that they had plenty of water stops so I made sure to drink at every one so I would at least have something in my stomach.  It wasn't hurting. I was just hungry! I could tell when I looked back at my splits when it really started to slow me down.  Before mile 8 I was on track to beat my PR from my half two weeks ago, but after mile 8 I slowed down a lot.  I think all my miles after that were 30-45 seconds slower than early on.  The course was still great.  There were some rolling hills but nothing too difficult.  It also started to get pretty hot but it didn't bother me too much.  I am that crazy person that would rather run in 95 degrees than 30 so I was actually enjoying the heat!

Ocean views :)

I rounded the corner and saw the finish and was so glad I had made it! Is it sad that my immediate thought was get me some food quick? I was so happy to see that they still had a ton of food for the finishers. Sometimes for those of us in the back of the pack the food can be either non-existent or just really picked over.  They had pizza, Subway sandwiches, bananas, oranges, and probably more that I just didn't see! I grabbed some and made my way to meet my family. Once I got some lunch I was good.  I felt great! I'm still amazed at how well the Galloway method works for me and how I am not sore at all after a race!

I finished 14 minutes slower (my time was 3:06) than my half two weeks ago but I'm trying to not be disappointed in my time. I know that they won't all be PR's and the truth is I still finished 25 minutes faster than a half marathon that I did exactly one year ago.  I know that the lack of my magic gummy bears hurt me and I'll make sure to have those from now on!

Overall the Rock n Fly was a great race! They did such a great job especially considering it was an inaugural race! The course was great and there was so many great volunteers along the course encouraging us.  I love my medal!

If y'all are anywhere near Pensacola during this weekend next year I would definitely recommend the Rock n Fly!

Did anyone else race this weekend? Tell me all about it!

River Valley Endurance Half Marathon Recap and a PR!

Hi y'all! Hopefully this post actually posts since we are on our way to Florida for a month and I don't have internet yet so I scheduled my posts! Before I get to my race recap I wanted to make sure to remind y'all to enter my Taffy Activewear giveaway.  It ends tonight at midnight!

I mentioned last week that I was really dreading my half marathon on Saturday. It was going to be a pretty small race and that always worries me because it's a pretty good chance I'll be last. I shouldn't worry about it but I do. Anyway...I went to pick up my packet on Friday and they gave us a map of the route so I decided to drive it. Part of my dread was that all I had heard from the local running group was how awful the course was. They said it was super hilly. When I drove it it did have hills but it didn't seem that bad. Route 66 and Hogeye were ridiculously hilly so I figured I could handle it.

I went in to this race with no intentions other than to finish it! I didn't have a time goal at all. I knew when I decided to do 14 half marathons this year I would have to be ok with finishing each one and not running my hardest. So I got up Saturday morning and an added bonus was that the race was only 5 minutes from our house so I didn't have to get up super early. It was super cloudy and I was just hoping to finish before it started to rain! 

When I got there they announced that there was 61 runners and 40 of those were running the half. The race started and I felt really good. I was surprised. I had some really bad runs leading up to this so I wasn't expecting to feel so great. At mile 1 I looked at my time and I was running a 12 min mile which is really fast for me when it's a long run. I usually average with my run/walk intervals a 14:30 mile for half marathons. I figured I would slow down and settle into my normal pace. It was hilly but it wasn't anything horrible. At mile 3 I checked my time again and I was running 13:00 min miles. I started to wonder if I could keep this up the entire time. If I did I would have a huge PR! My previous PR was last year at Rock n Roll Dallas and it was 3:15! Back of the pack runner! :)

This was my previous PR from last year

I hit the turn around at 1:25 and I couldn't believe it. I really kept expecting to slow down but it never happened. The only problem at this point was they ran out of water and it was hot! That was a little frustrating! The cloudy skies that they had forecast had disappeared and the sun was out. I just kept running along and sticking to my intervals. I was just so shocked that I was running so fast for me and my foot wasn't hurting at all. I seriously felt like I was flying and was having such a great time. The miles just kept going by and I was really enjoying each one. Races like these don't happen every time so I was really trying to enjoy it!

When I got to mile 12 I looked at my time and I knew I was going to break the 3 hour mark with no problem. This is a huge deal for me.  I know some people see it as super slow but I just don't care.  This is my speed and that's it.  I had long ago accepted my speed on long runs so I really had never planned on breaking the 3 hour mark this year.  I thought it would take a lot of speed work and I really wanted to focus on just finishing all my half marathons this year regardless of speed.  I got all teary as I rounded the corner by the finish line because I couldn't believe I had such a great race! I finished in 2:53:40 which is a 22 min PR! David and Colton were at the finish and it was just such a special day. I definitely had the runner's high the rest of the day.  I would love to someday finish around 2:45 so to realize that I could do it was just amazing!

Not my favorite medal but I'll take it!

I had several people ask me about my intervals and I wrote about the Galloway method and how I use it here.  Last year for all my half marathons I would run 2:30 and walk 30 seconds.  But after dealing with some injuries I have been running 1 minute and walking 25 seconds. It's been working great.  I've been injury free and have actually gotten faster with the shorter intervals.  I usually shorten my intervals for long runs so for this half marathon I ran 50 seconds and walked 25 seconds.  I finished 22 minutes faster using shorter intervals! Have I mentioned that Jeff Galloway is my hero? :)

A PR!!!

This half marathon made me super excited for all the rest that I have planned this year! Next weekend I have my next one and it's here in Florida! I'll be running the Rock n Fly. If any of y'all will be there let me know! Hopefully we will get all unpacked and settled and blogging will be back to a normal schedule. :)