Providence RI Rock & Roll Half-Marathon

I am a poser runner. I know I give off the impression that I might be hardcore... but I'm really not. When I tell you I run really slow, I'm not being modest. I'm being honest. For some reason though, people always over estimate my abilities. So signing up for this half marathon was kinda a big deal for me. I'm not a big runner. Small distances are still challenging to me.

I meant to train hard for this half. I meant to be a running machine. But somehow I seem to manage to fall short when preparing for big events. And not running seemed like a much better plan than running for the last few weeks. I guess after my 10 mile run, I fell apart and was pretty over running long distances. But there was still the matter of the half I'd signed up for.

The last three weeks I have managed to get one short run a week in. And I had to call that good. Even though those runs really sucked. So to say I was near hyperventilating over this half would be an understatement.

I woke myself up sleep talking last night. I dreamt about not running the half. And my stomach proceeded to be tense and full of hideous stomach flips. I was physically ill. Why I always am so ill prepared for big moments is beyond me. I guess cause somehow I always manage to make it through. But if a half marathon ever happens again, I swear I'll do a better job training for it. Cause this was rather unbearable.

I had a solid amount of acid reflux for the first 7 miles. My ankles hurt like a banshee. And mile 10 and 11? I dont even want to talk about how horrendous they were. But I kept running. Even when the run/walkers continued to leap frog around me. It poured rain the entire run. I might as well of gone swimming for how wet I was. But rain is greater than unbearable heat. So I count myself lucky. Because I'm not sure I could have done it in the heat. I only had to walk for a very short stint (0.3 miles) in Mile 11. Because I was over this whole half marathon business by Mile 11. But I kept telling myself I only had a couple more miles and that I could do it.

And indeed I did.

FYI: This Race started at 7am. That is hella early.

THE START

THE FINISH

I have run a half marathon. 13.1 Miles in 3:06:13.

It wasnt pretty by any means.
But I now know I have it in me to do it.

And look at the huge medal I got.

Pretty flashy.

Things to note:

I totally forgot a shirt to run in. So yes, I just wore the shirt I wore Friday.

My shoes definitely still had little rubber bits in them from playing softball - dang that turf field with its tiny rubber chips that hide in your shoes.

Run/walkers drive me crazy. Mostly because I hate passing people only to have them pass me thirty second later. 

Running while completely soaked is a bit much, but on the plus, you definitely dont have to worry about spilling water on yourself at the water stations.

I intensely dislike when the route winds past another part of the race. I dont want to be able to see the people who are like two miles ahead of me running. Its super disheartening to just pass the Mile 10 mark and have loads of people running past the Mile 12 mark in the opposite direction. Even worse was passing the Mile 11 mark and seeing people headed to Mile 13. 

Post-race bagels are the food of Gods. Even in the pouring rain. 

Warrior Dash

Dee suggested a while ago that we try our hand at a 3 mile obstacle course race. And while running and obstacles arent usually my thing, truthfully I like that Dee comes up with fun and interesting things for me to do. Yes, they are often outside my comfort zone. But really, trying new things with my friends is less intimidating to me. And I'm pretty much always game for her ideas, so she continues to invite me. So I continue to say yes. Its quite the adventure laden circle. 

Dee picked us up some matching camo shirts - because obviously at the warrior dash you need something tough looking to wear - and I braided Dee's hair and we put on some rather darling bandana's. 

Pre-Race

As you can tell we're super tough. 

Of course no warrior outfit is complete without some awesome face paint (the more of the face the more hardcore you are). 

Its tougher that way.

See what I mean?

Super tough. Practically T-U-F-F.

THE RACE

The race itself was crazy. First off, the traffic alone to get to the parking lots was insane... we ended up being an hour and a half late for our race. But it worked out just fine because they had heats of up to 600 people leaving every half hour. It was a crap load of people. We started out running... but that didnt really last long. Yes there was tons of people... but more so there was tons of mud. It was crazy. It has been raining in Boston the last week and it poured rain at 8am when the races started. I had SO much mud in my shoes it was ridiculous. And my heels have paid the price since with the mud came a lot of sticks and stones and other rubbish. Good thing I wore old runners that I knew werent making the trip back with me and scraps heal. Honestly, the majority of the course was like trudging through a bog. At its least the mud came up mid shin. But with each step you didnt know how far down your leg would sink. I wont pretend that I didnt fall a couple times, because sometimes the mud was up to my thigh and sometimes I'm clumsy. I would have to say that my favorite part of the whole thing was the obstacles. I thought that I might be a bit intimidated by them. But truthfully I ended up feeling like it was no big deal. Climb a tall wall with a rope and foot holds. Easy Peasy. Walk across skinny boards. No prob. Jump over some fire. Seriously No Big Deal. It was kind of funny cause I'd be up and over some of the obstacles, and Dee and Meag were like "What the heck? How did you do that so fast?" There was even a mud slip and slide of sorts... but mostly that just means a really steep hill that has nice and slick mud. Lets just say a mud slip and slide is less kind on the bottom, what with all the twigs and rocks sticking out. I ended up rolling down part way so I could save my bum from getting all scraped up. 

 

Post-Race

At the end we got our warrior medals, t-shirts and got to stand in front of the coldest pressurized water that was blown through fans at us to help us clean off. I must say, even though the water was brutal, when we got to the car I was glad I had decided to be a little more thorough than Meag and Dee.

The only downside to the whole thing was that I couldnt bring my camera. It definitely wouldnt of survived the experience. And that resulted in the post-pictures being less impressive than if I'd been covered in mud. Thankfully, Dee vetoed the water spray.

Dee the Warrior

Isnt she lovely?

And yes, there was a big muddy smear on the hood of her car.

Oh and did I forget to mention I now own that lovely hat as well.

Quite the parting prize.

So our post picture looks like we've each had a bit of an accident. 

I swear its mud!

Dee brought some water bottles and towels to help us clean off some of the mud.

And while that was pretty nice, I was more than ready to jump in the shower when I got home.

WOot Woot Warriors!

Groton Road Race 2011

We headed to Lucinda's sisters' house on Saturday. We got there and hung out on the lawn.

It was a gorgeous sunny day. 

Bray, Lucinda's nephew kept us well entertained.

He showed us his ninja skills.

And raced his bike around.

And read stories.

Then we painted the living room in their house.

For some strange reason I was really tired this weekend.

But it was great being at Lucinda's sister Rissie's house.

We had homemade pizza and watched Despicable Me in the basement theater they have, and when it finished at 9:30pm, Dee and I could have sworn it was midnight.

On Sunday morning I woke up and had some breakfast and then went right back to sleep till we had to leave for the races. We had a full day of races, with someone in each of the runs (Tot trot, 2K, 5K and 10K).

While we watched the different little kid races, it was kinda hilarious. One kid was way out in front winning their race and just bawling the entire way. 

I still was kinda half awake when the 5K rolled around.

Having not really been a stellar runner lately, this 5K was not the greatest. I was pretty much dead at the finish. But Dan was a sport and ran with me and gave me lots of encouragement to keep running.

My time was 33.59.

All in all it was a great relaxing weekend! And a great start to the revival of me running consistently.

Boston Firefighters Local 10K

This 10K came with a completely different feeling than the last.

I think mostly because I felt like my running has been less than stellar lately. 

So while I wasnt nervous so much about the race, I was nervous about my ability to run.

Cause running hates me. And lately the feeling has been mutual.

But I was determined. I would run the entire 6.2 if it killed me - which I was fairly certain it would.

BEFORE

Dee, Lucinda and I apparently signed up one right after each other during class. Hence the numbers.

Dee, Me, Lucinda, Chelsea

The run was going alright tho - pretty flat for the most part. I mean I was tired but making better time than I'd anticipated. That is until I hit the Mile 4 marker. That was when my body decided it had had enough running and wanted to stop. But I kept going. We ran on the road and I kept thinking that I was closer than I was. Turns out I wasnt super observant on the loop out, so I kept getting tricked into thinking I was further along than I was. Which made for a long run. I legitimately wanted to stop running, but I pushed through (and cursed a few times for good measure). A slow run is still a run tho. And I'm glad I kept going. I even beat my time from the last 10K - 66 mins Booya! Even though this run hurt more to run (due to my waning consistency), I do realize that I'm making some progress - even if it doesnt feel like it. Running a little faster than I ran before and that sort of thing.

AFTER

10 K What?

BEFORE

Yessurrey - I just finished my 10K. And let me tell you... it had a lot more hills than I ever run with. Lucinda and Dee had told me it had rolling hills that you hardly noticed... which was a lie. I straight up asked Dee - "If these are rolling hills, what the heck are real hills?" But even with the addition of the hills I think it went well. It was a run along the shoreline - which I suppose was slightly wasted on me, since I stare at the floor almost the entire time I run... But I looked up every now and then to see waves crashing against the rocks. Plus ocean breeze - pretty clutch. I definitely had to do some mental pep talks to keep running (pretty much the entire way) and my legs were dead by Mile 5. But I made it! And to add to that - back in Edmonton (3 years ago) I ran a 10K in an hour fifteen... welp... I beat my time: 1:08:54. Yes I'm slow. But a win is a win. I am already sore and tired though. Yay for victories.

AFTER

We took a quick gander at the beach we started our  run from (and no, we didnt have to run on sand - That would be HORRIBLE). Gorgeous beach.