gogohedgehoglegs

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Hartford Half Marathon

Hartford Half Marathon

October 12, 2019

So crazy as this sounds, I haven’t run this half marathon since 2010.  it was my first.  Since then, I’ve either run the full, or we’ve been traveling elsewhere at the time the race was happening. It feels surreal that its been that long, but there it is.  I signed up for the half here, only because from 2018 I had deferred Ocean State Rhode Race marathon to this year, and I knew it wasn’t going to be feasible to do both.

I have a bit of a love/annoy relationship with this race, I admit.  Not so much with the course itself, but with logistics.  I’m a big fan of showing, showing ID, getting a bib, running a race, eating a donut, and going home.  So to have to drive to Hartford the day before, pay to park, walk to the XL center, get my bib, weave through the completely random aisles just to get out, go back to the car, and then go back to work….I’d just love race day pickup if I must be honest.  But I know that most people that live in areas with biggest races are used to that setup, it just seems like time wasted to me.

But I digress.  So I arrive the morning of the race to the parking garage a few blocks away, walk over to the main area, and then just spend a lot of time wandering and standing on portalet lines before I turn in my bag at the bag check area, then head into the start corrals.  I was lucky enough to run a decent time at Hogsback last year, so I was in the B corral, which is a half time of 1:55 and under.  I was worried id getting a little trampled, but then thought that maybe id push a little today and see if I could swing under 1:55 for next year, so I could be in the less crowded start.  Chat with some people while waiting, and then off we went!

This race will always sweep you along, just cause there’s so many more people than the usual races I run. A little over half a mile in,the 1:50 pace group catches up to me(they started outside the B corral), so I make the on-the-fly decision to just hang with them as long as I can.  Mostly cause one of the pacers was wearing their number belt below their butt, and I couldn’t figure out how 1) it was staying up, and 2) would it fall down during the race?

The miles, I have to say, went pretty easily.  We were consistently hanging around the 8:30 marking, paces I haven’t run since god-knows-when, but somehow, it felt ok. So I let it be.  Same game as hogsback- run till I blow up, then ive got a little banked time to make it less frustrating at the end.  

But as we ran through Hartford, and West Hartford, and Elizabeth Park- with slow uphills, slow downhills, nothing too terrible, it all still kept feeling ok.  There were a few times the pace group started to get ahead of me, but I figured if they were in sight then I should still be on track to get a 1:55 or under, and a corral placement for next year.  I caught up to them again near the end, and went past the 2 pacers, who were sweeping people up to try to bring them in.  they passed me again heading down the final straight to the finishers chute, but it was all good!

I ran my fastest half marathon since April of 2018, giving me some hope that maybe all my speed isn’t gone, its just buried somewhere deep down.  

Looking back, it was a very good day. I ran a negative split in what I think may be the first time ever, and passed people throughout.  At the 5K my pace was 8:33 and my place was 984.  10K it was 8:32 and 950 place(i know that seems far back, but 3700 people started the race).  15K brought me 8:31 pace and 884.  And the finish? 8:28 pace and 813 overall.

Final Stats

1:50:59

813/3706 overall, 254/2026 women, 36/272 F35-39

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Hogsback Half Marathon

Hogsback Half Marathon

September 28, 2019

And with this race, the fall racing season begins for me- I decided to take it easier this fall, running only 4 half marathons- I just didn't put in the miles over the summer to justify even trying to run a full without being completely miserable.  This will be the first fall in a long time(2010!!) that there hasnt been at least 1 marathon.

This race is a great race- it is up in the northwest corner, so lots of trees and not so many cars- exactly how I like it.  Its also one of the largest fundraisers for Running For Rescues, an organization I started funding raising for after I found out about them last year, at this same race.

I got there plenty early, even before the early start headed out- parking can be tight because of it being at the reservoir, so Id rather get there early and sit and read.  I wandered my way down the hill to the finish area to catch up with a friend- she had planned to run, but an ankle injury changed her plans.  Got to spend some time with her, and then on to the pre-race ritual of hanging out in the portalet lines.  But finally, its go time!

The race starts with a little bit of uphill- but this is New England after all, hills are part of the game.  After the uphill, the next couple miles are actually downhill, and the groups spread out pretty quickly.  I had no idea what I wanted time-wise for the race, and I had initally started with the 2:05 group to try and dampen my tendency to run the first miles way too fast, but I still found myself pulling ahead of the group.  I was nervous about doing that, mostly because I really didn't want to go too fast and blow up, but I was feeling ok, and it was downhill, so I figured banking a minute or two couldn't hurt.  

What I think is most interesting is this is a race without any really significant landmarks.  Normally I think of races and I think of a horse statue, or some old inn, or Elizabeth Park, etc etc...and yet, other than recalling the race from prior seasons, I remember some hills a little more than others, but there's no particularly distinct things.  Which I think I love! We so often find ourselves counting the miles more in races because we're looking for the next marker, the next split- are we on pace? Are we running negative splits?

But here? You just relax and run.

So maybe this wasn't my fastest.  Hey, maybe its actually a new personal worst.  But maybe there's something to be said for just enjoying the day and the fact that I can still run, despite all the moodiness of my heel, a tight hip that just refuses to do what I want it to...im still out here.

Final stats:

2:02:24

115/370 overall, 52/237 women, 13/32 F30-39

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Colorado 13er

Colorado 13er

June 2, 2019

So I almost don't know how to tell the story of the half marathon.  Because its not JUST a half marathon. This was a big weekend adventure for me.  I told some of the story in an earlier blog post, so the short version of it is that this race was the crown jewel of the weekend long Skirt Sports Ambassador retreat.  I flew in on Friday, got to visit what all of us ambassadors refer to as “The Mothership,” AKA the Skirt Sports store, and finally meet so many of the wonderful women ive known through facebook and some other meetups all these years.  I of course spent too much at the story(how do you not when yore flying southwest, so you can check a bag of all the goodies?!?!?!), and had the most amazing Pie and Bubbly courtesy of another ambassador Erin, who owns a pie shop in TX.  Yep, you read that right- she flew from TX to CO with so many lemon pies and peanut butter pies. And man oh man am I so glad she did, they were just amazing!

The official retreat kicked off that night with a bunch of speakers, happy hour, beers, and more friends. Yours truly was given the award of Miss Skirt 2019, for my overall contribution as an ambassador, which I was most humbled by- to me I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary, I was just sharing my love of the brand.  

Saturday started with an early morning hike, which brought some of the most beautiful views I have seen in a very long time, mostly because its been 20 years since ive been to Colorado. Breakfast was awesome- a huge old plate of home fries, my kind of breakfast!  The second day was jam packed- speaks through the morning, with some short moving sessions to keep us all from getting squirrelly.  Dinner was great with a friend Amy(local), and another friend of hers, and then the vintage fashion show to end the evening.

Morning dawned quickly- the race starts at 630am, but that's mountain time, so really that's 830 for this East Coaster, so no big deal.  Nuun, decaf coffee, and the leftover pizza was breakfast, and the carb loading was complete.  I wondered how I would do, my diet this weekend left something to be desired- it was really just potatoes, beer, more potatoes, a veggie hummus wrap, more beer, pizza, and more beer.  I think there were some veggies on the pizza!  Met up with some other ambassadors to snag a ride, helped Amy get her bike in the car(she was doing a bike race that morning), and then over to the start we went.

The race went off, with me pretty in the middle of the pack.  This used to be a women's only race, so lots of women, and only a few men in the crowd.  The race is primarily on all of the womderful crushed gravel trails/paths that wind all around Boulder and Louisville- I want to call them railtrails because that's what we have, but these are all bike/run/walk paths that are just all around.  This is a 2 loop course- you run out, run along the trails(watch out for the geese, they're not friendly!), almost back down to the startline, loop around and cone, and do it all over again.  I must say I just loved this course- you go uphill, its flat, then you go downhill.  The crushed gravel was such pleasant footing- that perfect cushy, without kicking up stones, and have I mentioned the Rockies all around you?? And the big sky?? And the fact that I can breath for the first time in 20 years?

Yes, yes, I know I'm at altitude. A lot of it.  Yes, yes, I know I'm technically a flat-lander, and that doesn't make any sense.  But that's the truth of it.  I love being at altitude, I liken living in the northeast to feeling like you're drowning all the time.  I don't know why. Maybe its just the fresh air, maybe that its not as polluted, I have no idea, I just know it was glorious.  For the first rae in a long time- it was easy to breath, I wasn't sucking wind, and I wasn't in pain.  I could have run a marathon today, and it would have been awesome.

I have to also say it was fun running with so many Skirt Sisters.  I don't think ive ever been at a race when I knew so many people.  As much as it wasn't local for me, I knew more people through this- this extrovert doesn't belong to any local running clubs, so this race was much more with my tribe.  Its such an encourgaging atmosphere- with the figure 8 course, and multiple distances, there was a ton of people out there. When I came off the second loop and back down the hill toward the finish, it felt great to head down that hill.  I'd set no expectations for this race- between the traveling, the retreat, the recovery from training(Lake Waramaugh was only a month earlier, and Rhinebeck Marathon only 2 weeks after that), and the fun and games eating wise, I knew the stars were not quite going to be in alignment.  I have to admit, after running a race that felt that good, I contemplated if it was a sign we really should move out West, whether I should just eat potatoes all day every day, or whether just letting all the pressures go meant that much.  I will say I still technically ran a new personal worst, but if I'm going to have that much fun, it was worth every second.

I crossed the finish line, and then spent the next 1.5 hours with my Sisters, doing zumba, eating cake, and cheering in runner after runner.  I must say, I can't wait for next time!

Final stats:

2:00:29

36/224 overall, 20/177 women, 5/59 women 35-39

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Rhinebeck Marathon

Rhinebeck Marathon

May 11, 2019

I have to say, this has become one of the races I look forward to the most each year.  This is one of those wonderful small town races- smaller crowd, smaller amount of runners, no dodging around everything.  Made itin the night before, so I could spend some time visit with my parents.  Grabbed the obligatory pre-marathon pizza, and relaxed for the night.  

The drive on race day is only about half an hour, and its all backroads, so nice and quiet, but still have to be on the lookout for deer, porcupines, raccoons, opossums, etc- only thing that didn't make an appearance this year was the porcupines.  Got there with plenty of time, although parking is never an issue here since the race is staged at the Dutchess County fairgrounds(best part about that is the flushing toilets!!!).  Got my bib(i get to be #1 again!!!), and the great tshirts- they're women's cut, a nice design/logo, and they're soooo soft.  Pre race was the usual ritual, and its time to head out into the not too warm, but rather windy, day.

The marathon goes off, and away we go! This is a 2 loop course, which helps to keep you from feeling too all alone- the only really quiet point of this race is the first part of the second loop from the marathoners- you aren't passing the tail end of the half marathon, and you haven't hit the out and back yet.  The wind isn't quite as bad once you get running- its helping to keep me cool, but its also not as bad, with all the tree cover(also means its not too sunny either).

I'm not feeling too bad as we begin- this wasn't my goal race for the spring, even though it is my only marathon- I knew from last year that likely I wouldn't be fully recovered from Lake Waramaug, so really pushing it was out of the question, i'll leave that till the fall.  Lots of rolling hills through here, which makes me happy.  I know that's not considered perfect conditions, but when its the majority of what you run, it feels easier, and less straining then an all flat course.

The first loop is going well, and ive reached the out and back for the first time.  As wel go along, some of the leading men are already coming back(theyre so fast!!), and thankfully, no deer run out into the road this year.  I reach the turnaround, and head back down the hill.  And heres where it gets fun- there's a tree branch.  But am I paying attention? Nope! So for the second race in 2 weeks, ive tripped over a tree branch. Thankfully this time I didn't cut my leg, but instead jammed up my hip real good.  I hobble trying to test it, some of the initial shock and cramping settles some, and I can at least keep running.  I'm trying to figure out if this is going to hold up, but ive got a couple miles to do it, as that's when the first loop ends. I get back into town, head down to whats the end of the halfers, and the start of the second for us.  The timing mat is there, and I'm going to cross it just over 2 hours. I confirm with the volunteers- the time cutoff is 6 hours, so if it gives out, ive got 4 hours to finish the second half.

The start of the second loop is quiet- there's only 100 marathoners or so, so we are pretty spread out by this point.  My hip isn't great, its tight, and its affecting my whole gait.  I decide the plan is to walk through the water stops to give it a chance to calm down, as these water stops are really well spaced.  I keep hobble stepping along, its not getting worse, but its not working itself out either(guess ill be taking a few days off after this!!). To be honest I don't remember tons about the second half- pain has a funny way of doing that.  I don't know about you, but when I'm in pain, even if I can focus on something in short term, that's not what I remember in the long term.  I think I appreciated the fact that this happened on a course I know so well- this is the 4th time in running this race, so I know exactly what happens, and that makes it so much easier to just zone out and foccus on finishing.

Finally hit the out and back, I know its not much farther from here.  This is where the biggest crowds are, and where it feels there's more runners.  On the upside, fueling is going well, and I'm not having any of the cramping that was plaguing me at lake waramaugh, so there's that.  I walk a few points along here, because this hip is starting to be more unhappy than it has been.  And finally the out and back is done, and its just the run back to town.  Up some hills, up some more hills, as we climb back up from Rhinecliff, which is really the low point of the course(its right by the Hudson), and then not much climb back up out before the out and back.  And finally the last road, and straightaway before making the left turn to home.    I keep running through here- at this point I. Just. Want. To. Be. Done.

And then I am!  It's a new personal worst, but that was out of my control today.

Final stats:

4:28:24, 64/100 overall, 20/40 women, 9/11 women 30-39

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Crashing back to reality

so I’ve finally managed to write some of my race reviews.  and stop eating all my stress.  and realize that my crazy #beardedladydog really is going to hang around for a bit.  thats the short of it.

want the longer version?

So in early June I went on the most amazing trip out to Colorado, all by myself, for the Skirt Sports Ambassador Retreat.  I’ve been an ambassador since 2015, but this is the first time the stars have aligned for me to be able to go.  it’s not often i get to do something like this for myself, which made it all the more thrilling.  

I got to meet all these wonderful women I’ve “met” over the last few years- and we got to laugh together, and cry together, and smile together, and hike together, and i could have had weeks of that and it not be enough.

To make it more fun, i had one of the best half marathons I’ve had in a long time. was it the fastest? nope, not by a long shot.  in fact, its my new personal worst.  but the upside? i felt amazing. the whole time.  i haven’t felt that good running since time before when.  there was no pain.  there was no humidity, so my vision never swam in.  i never had to my put head between my knees. i never had to wring out my skirt.  it was fantastic.  there is nothing like the amazing Colorado air.  Its fresh, its light.  While I’ve spent my entire life living in the Northeast, I have always felt like I’m drowning in the humidity.  When I’m at altitude, i feel the most wonderful relief.

weekends like this are amazing, but they also make the next monday so very tough.  we have to re-enter the world- go back to work, make our pb&j for lunch, and act like an adult, instead of just focusing on all the fun things.

And then 5 days later my world came to a crashing halt.  that might sound dramatic, but the re-entry into reality was intense.  that might sound dramatic, but Blondie got sick.  and not just kinda sick, but couldn’t stop coughing, couldn’t stop panting, respiratory rate of 70 breaths a minute(it should be under 25...).  vet gave her a mega dose of lasix and sent us in the direction of the 24hour emergency vet who had an ICU.  So Lou met me down there, and the second we walked in the door they took her from us.  xrays showed what looked like it might be heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension.  but she had to stay for the weekend and see the cardiologist on monday and have an EKG.

so they let us see her, let us say good night, and told us they would call.  but even a little bit of time on oxygen had calmed her system down, so they were more sure than our vet had been that she would make it through the night.  

we went down the next day and spent a little time, and then had to hear her crazy terrier voice howl her head off when we left, because she didnt want us to leave.  she didn’t understand.  we went again the next day, and this time got to spend more time, out of the oxygen chamber.  she curled up in my lap and fell asleep.

finally on monday the most wonderful news- she gets to come home!  the final diagnosis was different than we thought.  definitely pulmonary hypertension, but layered on top of chronic bronchitis, and the diagnosis being a blood clot in her lungs.  so the great news was that there was no heart failure, but still scary that she’d had the clot.

so the road over the past 2 months has been strange.  the daily routine has settled- she gets pills morning, noon, and night, which thrills her no end since they’re all in peanut butter.

but there’s the scared part of me, waiting for the other shoe to drop. when we thought it was heart failure, we knew it would only be a matter of months before another exacerbation.  i spent my whole weekend making my peace with that.  but a blood clot? that can be controlled with plavix.  so if her lungs stay stable, we could havea few months, or we could have a couple years.

but do you what both that amazing weekend and everything with Blondie have shown me? Live in the now. Cherish the moments, and in the words of one the one and only Nicole DeBoom, “have the best day.”

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Newport Half Marathon

Newport Half Marathon

April 2019

The race that wasn't.

For the first time in what I think is ever in my life, I slept through my alarm.

When you wake up at 5am and you need to be just over 2hrs away by 7am, me thinks you're toast.

On to next year.

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Colchester Half Marathon

Colchester Half Marathon

February 2019

This is a great smalltown race, or at least that's the way I think of it. Its not a small race though, a ton of people turn out for it.  Its the end of february every year, so people are getting squirrely and looking to race outside, its sometimes warm, and there's a ton of food at the finish.  For $14, its a frikkin steal.

So I got there later than I normally did this year, and nearly couldn't find a parking space.  As I drove up and down the aisles of the school, I was actually having the internal debate of whether I should just go home.

But I couldn't. I had an awesome new to me skirt, and it was warm enough I was going to be able to run in long sleeves and gloves and a headwrap.  And capris.  And nothing else.  No blalaclava, no beanie, no 2 pairs of gloves, no handwarmers.  None of that stupid winter stuff that's just a fact of being trapped in a New England winter.

So the start goes off smoothly, I'm smart enough to put myself farther back from normal, accepting of the slower speeds.  Sadly, nothing came back this winter.  That bubkus they tell you of “oh, push through the hot weather, your body will get stronger for running in it, blah blah blah.” Lies.  All lies. I spent the summer trying not to pass out, trying not to puke, cutting runs short, blah blah blah.  Know what happens when you do that? You gain weight and lose fitness. And try and lose weight with a dysfunctional thyroid. Yeah..... that weight is here to stay, sorry.  So just have to deal with being a solid minute a mile slower. Because now that I'm heavier, I'm slower, so since my workouts aren't miles based but time based since that's easier on a tight morning schedule, it almost means that overall my mileage is down.  

At least this is a beautiful course to have these grumbly thoughts on.  There's mostly farms, tons of space between houses, a few cows out to moo at us, and enough rolling hills that you are having to think and pay attention.  This race was fine in terms of nutrition and hydration, I got that part right.  What missed the mark was the pain.  And I wish I had a good explanation for it.  Other than a sore hip from when I heard a pop rolling over on the couch about a week ago(seriously, who runs marathons without getting hurt, and then hurts herself rolling over on the couch??), its just tough.  Its not like “oh my knee, the bad one with the torn meniscus.”  its just an all over everything tugging, tight and stiff like you are wearing too tight pantyhose that have been dipped in crazy glue and stuck right to you sort of pain.

So made it through about 9 miles because that really set in, then the rest was a suffer fest. Especially those last couple slowly uphill miles.  I hobble in to the finish, hobble my way to my car, grab my clothes, hobble inside, nearly fall over while changing in the bathroom, wait for a brief massage to work out some of the pain and calm it down since I have a 45 minute drive home, then I can just rest.  I don't have a race for 6 weeks, and I'm kinda glad.  My primary goal is getting to Lake Waramaug healthy enough to run well.

[gogohedgehoglegs]

lost in a vortex

do you ever turn around and wonder where the last day, or the last week, the last month, or even the last year went?

yup, thats hows things have been for me.  I’ve been struggling with my running, but instead of acknowledging it, I’ve been hiding from it.  It’s so hard to see things change, and have the future be uncertain.  2 years ago, I would have told you I’d run until my legs fell off. now, as i spent the latter part of 2018 missing miles, struggling to finish runs in the heat that never used to bother me, struggling with the feelings of fatigue, having to defer a race to 2019, drop down in distance for another race....I’ve either got to come to terms with the new slower, lower distance me, or I have to accept the consequences of continuing to push.

so what about the race reviews you ask?

weellllllll, i went on protest in 2018- i never wrote one for Hogsback Half(which is sad, because i really enjoyed it, and, its what prompted me to sign up and support Running for Rescues, an organization that supports rescues with more costly vet bills, transport, etc), Hartford Marathon(26.2 miles of hell. If I ever have a race like that again, I’m done. Seriously.), and Roxbury Half Marathon(whoop dee doo, another PW at the half marathon distance, at least it was a nice day).

so lets just leave those races forever lost in the vortex.  I’ve written about my 2019 races, just procrastinated on posting them.  Partly because Ive felt like they were a bit more inwardly focused and not as much race focused, but I guess that just tells me thats really where my headspace is at right now, and I’m better off sitting with that.

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Surtftown Half Marathon

Surftown Half Marathon

Or, the longterm effects of being a graceful butterfly.

September 10, 2018

So this story actually starts on August 31, when I thought it would  be a great idea to imitate a baseball player sliding into homeplate with a teammate hot in their heels.

I wouldn't advise it.

It left me bruised and bloody, with a cut knee, cut elbow, and dirt ground into my hands.  Yep.  Ground in. like had to use a needle the way you would aspirate a blister.  Only to dig dirt out.

The cuts healed, but the knee took a really long time for the swelling to come down.  So I hardly ran, knowing I had to figure out a way to get this better. Because of course the time limit to defer a race is 14 days, and I thought it would be good to do this 11 days out.  Only upside is this course is a figure 8, so its really easy to DNF since you run past the start line halfway through.

So lots of different tapings and a few hesitant miles later, I decided to head down there since I couldn't get my money back, and it would cost even more to downgrade to the 5K(seriously, I'm not spending the original $65, plus the $10 fee for changing races), and just run the risk of DNF.  With the way this summer's training was, it would sadly be a fitting start to the fall race season.

Got down there with plenty of time, got my bib, and then just sat in the car and crocheted.  Yep, I'm that exciting.  Finally came time for lineup, all the usual race instructions, and we were off.

This first loop of this race goes out along Atlantic Ave, which floods when its been raining a lot, so a miracle it wasn't flooded.  This is a long straightaway, and I started with the 1:50 pace group. 2 pacers. Who talked. And talked. And talked. Only to each other. Often starting sentences with “oh my god...”  

Funny. When I look at my garmin info for the race, just after mile 2, my heart rate shoots up.  Probably cause in 2 miles id had enough, and had decided to go ahead of the group.  Because I couldn't take it anymore. My knee is not happy though, but when I tried slowing down, that was even worse. So faster pace it is.

Its a shame that I'm so distracted by my knee, because this really is a pretty course, especially going out along the coast here.  We then head up through some of the older houses, you know, the ones that aren't giant mansions.  Ok, I'm done. This knee is toast.  The course now heads back along Atlantic Ave, and I'm just moving along so that I can be done with this already. There's a timing mat here, and then volunteer is trying desperately to get me to go over it, but I tell him I'm done.

So moral of the story? Making adult decisions is stupid, and I hate having to do them. Just stay vertical.

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Bay of Fundy International Marathon

Bay of Fundy International Marathon

June 24, 2018

Finally getting to do one of my bucket list races!  The husband and I love the small town of Lubec, Maine, where I think there are more crows than people- just the way we like it.  Canada is literally a stones throw away, just across one of the entries into the Bay of Fundy.  Our rental cottage overlooks this, looking right across to Campobello Island, one of the favorite haunts of FDR, and where the Roosevelt International park is located.

We get into the Bangor area late on Friday, have ourselves a lovely mexican food takeout dinner since we aren't allowed to leave the dog in the room(thats a good call by the hotel, the little gremlin would probably howl anyway), and then the rest of the way Saturday morning, including a stop at Finelli's pizza in Ellsworth for lunch(seriously, if you're ever within like a 5 hour radius of Ellsworth, its worth the drive for the pizza), and then away we go.  We get to Lubec early enough we have time for all the race stuff before we check in.  This race is a bit more of a process because you are leaving the country and coming back in.  First you check in, then you get your shirt. I had ordered a LS commemorative shirt, because you know, why not....only to find out that “gender specific tech t shirt” and “long sleeve commemorative shirt” are actually the same LS shirt. Soooooooooooooooooo ive now got 2 of the exact same thing. In pink. In sizing that is clearly men's, because the small is enormous and the sleeves go down past my fingers.  

After discussing with one of the volunteers, I discover that its a “known problem for a couple years” that “its not all that clear on the site” that ITS THE SAME SHIRT. At least I'm told I can bring one to the finish line where they normally do exchanges for size and change it for a different race shirt since the 10K, half, and full, all have different colors.  Its only when I get home and try it on that I realize that I'm going to need to change both of them for size at a bare minimum.

Next stop after bibs and shirts is the border crossing-  you literally have to go to the Canadian border patrol, show your passport, go up the hill to the Discovery Center, get your bib for the race, and then head back to wherever you are staying. B was with us, apparently her beard made her rather non threatening, because all they asked was if she was up to date on shots, and they let her go with us, so even shes now a world traveller!

So the morning dawned VERY early- the race starts at 710am, and the shuttles stop running after 615 because of the route of the ultramarathon, so somebody has the best husband, because he got up at an ungodly hour just to drive me over there.  As with all races, you make friends with people in the bathroom line, and then once you hop on the bus.  It was fun chatting with some people from out of state, definitely made the time pass.  We got a little excitement in the middle of our wait, as the ultramarathon course is the full marathon course, but they started in town, and then ran out to where the marathon start is, so we got the chance to cheer all 9 of them as they made their way through.

Finally it was time for the start- last minute instructions, lots of jokes about hills(really, its the only way to not cry), and we were off! I spent the first few miles near a gentleman wearing a unicorn horn headband- he said he always like to wear something goofy at the race each year, and this was his pick.  I banked a teensy bit of time in the first 6 miles or so- this is when you are running from West Quoddy Light along South Lubec rd, and its the only part of the race that pretends to be flat- really, its just flatter than the rest of it, but its still not flat.  We make the turn off S Lubec rd to the main road through town.  I drop my Honey Stinger Waffle, promptly shout “Five Second Rule!!!” and run back and grab it- I’d only taken a couple bites, I wasn't wasting it. And I'm still alive to write this, so it all turned out ok.

Just after the waffle rescuing incident of 2018, we head over the border, run past the border officials who are calling us by name(its not creepy, our names are on our bibs, and we aren't a big crowd, there's time to see a runner and read it), and then UP we go.  Up over the FDR Memorial Bridge, then down the other side, and then UP eleventy million feet to the top of the hill where you can see the whole town of Lubec from this side. Its a pretty view, and you have a lot of time to see it, because by this point you're crawling. It’s a big hill.

Once you're up the hill, the next few miles are going past the international park, with the road rolling slightly up and down.  Its interesting, the hills give, and the hills take away.  There's not really long up or down hills this entire race, it just keeps rolling. And rolling.  And rolling some more. And whats worse than the hills?  Because Campobello Island is one big out and back, from the time you hit the bridge all the way until the turn around, you not only see the mile you are hitting, but you're seeing the numbers you still have to get to.  So its kinda painful to see mile 8, and then also see mile 23...that is a llloooonnnngggggg time from now.  After the park, the course winds down briefly, heading into Friar's Cove, before winding back up and hanging a right at Welshpool to go inland for the length of the island.  Its a shame to head away from the island and ocean views, but this is still wooded and pretty through here.  A lot of the people have come out of their houses to cheer, and even the local nursing home rolled out all the residents so they could hang out on the patio and cheer.

Somewhere out around the half marathon mark you hit Otter Cove, and get some time looking out at the ocean again.  The weather is pretty cool, and no rain(a relief after Lake Waramaugh and Rhinebeck), but not a lot of wildlife either- in past years we have seen bald eagles out in this area. At this point the course is starting to get busier as we run from Otter Cove into Wilson's Beach- the half marathon starts on Campobello Island, so a lot of them are making their way back from the headlight toward Lubec, and we are also seeing the lead woman and man for the marathon- she will go on to shatter the women's record(her own) by more than 10 minutes, nearly running and OTQ on a true beast of a course.

16 minutes takes you to what on a map is known as Head Harbour Lightstation, but is also known as East Quoddy Head light.  In past years we have seen whales out beyond the light, but not today. Back in we go at this point.  I'm still feeling pretty solid, and fuel and nutrition are always going well- sometimes by this point I'm having trouble with stupid human functions like chewing and swallowing, but right now its still right as rain.  Back along all these flippin rolling hills we go.  I'm now catching some of the slower half marathoners, but its nice to be able to exchange a few words with people, it makes the miles pass.  Along the inland road I go, with glimpses of the ocean as I work along.  The hills just keeping rolling, and rolling, and rolling.

Finally the drop down into Friar's Bay.  I know its not close to the end, but somehow, in my brain, it signifies that the race is almost done.  Its warm, so I'm starting to get tired by this point, and I'm grabbing 2 cups at a lot of the aid stations.  Its not long after this that I pass 2 women, one of which compliments me on my form(i don't think that's ever happened before!), and then other jokes about how I make it look so easy cause I'm not sweating. I laugh, not because its easy and I'm not sweating, but because the sun is hot and the sun is evaporating what little sweat is coming out of me.  Its not cause I'm superfit, its because I'm to the point that I'm dehydrated enough I can barely sweat.

And then comes the best part of the race- down the ginormous hill from the Discovery Center, up to the rise of the FDR Memorial Bridge, and then down the hill into Lubec! The border officers are all cheering us on, which I have to say is one of the coolest parts of the race. Then the right turn onto Main St, and across the finish it is!  

I wander for a bit trying to find the husband, and chatting with some of the other runners that are around. Post race food there's potato chips and chocolate, so to say I'm in my glory is an understatement.  I finally find the husband, and am able to check the AG awards. I find out I got 3rd in my AG, but the first 2 were actually 2 of the top 3 women.  I was a little surprised by the double dipping of awards, moreso for the 2 that finished behind me.  I think I didn't realize that I'm reading all the FAQs on the website, but it is what it is.  

Stats

3:50:43

26/124 overall, 8/61 women, 3/14 F30-39

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Rhinebeck Marathon

Rhinebeck Marathon May 12, 2018

This is a race that's become one of my favorites, because its that small town race that's focused on the runners.  Rhinebeck is a beautiful area, so you are running with woods, and horses, and old houses all around you, not running through a city.  Plus its close to where I grew up, so its nice to be able to visit my parents as well.  I drive over to stay with my parents the night before, of course grabbing the obligatory pizza to make sure I'm nice and carb loaded. So of course its great to have realy NY pizza for a change as well

Morning of the race comes with good temps, although rainy.  But its May in NY, that's just what happens. I get to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, which serve has the start/finish area, and find out that I've got a funny surprise- my enthusiasm in signing up was apparently so enthusiastic that I've got bib number 1!  I never realized they assigned by order of signup and not by alphabetical, so there you go!  Another great tshirt(theyre sooooooooo soft, and a perfect fit, so I actually wear them around a lot), and I head to hang out in the car.

This race was supposed to be my goal race, but I went and did that whole crazy 50K thing 2 weeks prior, so I knew that wasn't going to be the case anymore.  It was a perfect 50 degrees and raining, so tank and arm sleeves it it.  Comes time for race time, and head across the track(for trotters, not cars) and over near the horse barns(no horses there right now, only when there's events), and hang out.  Make a few jokes about the bib, and then all the usual race instructions, and then we are off!

This is a 2 loop course that also features an out and back as part of it, which is nice, because even with the small crowd, you don't necessarily feel alone.  There are rolling hills throughout, which you would expect, its the way everything is in this part of NY.  You head out through town for a bit over a mile before getting into the more rural part of the race. I've got a nice pace in the beginning, and I'm happy with that.  I'm not going for broke, I'll just take a good time.  What I like about this course's hills is that you are up and down throughout, you aren't in a situation where you are climbing for 3 miles before you get a break, so your legs never really burn out.  

The course winds past the Wilderstein Historic site, and right along the Hudson River, so there's always a bit of a breeze, which is nice.  Its raining through all of this, but not hard- honestly, just enough to help you stay cooler.  You then run through Rhinecliff, which has more hills, more spectators, some overly enthusiastic cows who are probably cheering louder than the spectators, and then we head onto a road that goes between the 2 pasture areas for a farm, and onto the out and back we go.  This is the spot that we almost got hit by a deer last year, when crossed the road without looking.  Lucky for her, the road was closed to traffic because of the race. I'm still doing ok through here, fueling consistently, drinking consistently, not feeling like I'm sweating too much.  

You finish the out and back, and then youve got a little under 2 miles until you make it back to the fairgrounds, where the half marathoners take a left to the finish, and the full marathoners take a right to head out for the second loop.  This is probably the lonliest part right here- the half marathoners start later than the full marathoners, but they are all through this first part of the loop by now, its not until the turn through the horse farm right before the out and back that you really start encountering them, so with a marathon field of less than 100(94 to be exact), it gets a little quiet.  

And of course, this is when the garmin decides to start misbehaving.  During Lake Waramaugh, it had decided to drop signal, and after it tells me I ran a 718 minute.....i knew that's what happened again.  I am definitely way tired at this point, my legs really aren't recovered from the shenanigans from 2 weeks ago, and I'm paying for it now.  I swear the hills are bigger than they were the first time, so I just do what I need to do.  But I guess if I'm going to have my garmin misbehave(again), a race where I don't have goals and done care about splits is a good one.  So over the (tiny) river, through the woods, past the farms, past the town, past the enthusiastic cows(the most enthusiastic is the one standing at the closed barn door and bellowing- guess she wants in out of the rain??) , and through Rhinecliff we go.

Nearing the out and back a funny thing happens....a wall!!!  Who knew?? that mythical wall really does exist!!  Crappy takes on a whole new meaning here, and I feel like I'm crawling.  Thankfully, from having done this race before, I know its really not much longer to go, and these are the miles that go a little bit easier.  I eat an extra snack, hoping that will help bring me to life a little bit.  The turn around has never looked so good, now I know its only a few more miles to go.  I hit one of the waterstops, and someone shouts to me- “are you the one whos friend left her a gel?” and I reply “wasn't me, I don't have any friends!” which got a few chuckles.  Even exhausted, I apparently can still at least be a little bit funny.  I make the turn off the out and back, and toward town I go.

I'm happy there's people out on course at this point, a combo of the half marathoners and a few other full marathoners, so people to distract me.  I get back to town, run along the main road, the cops are doing a great job directing traffic so that we don't have to stop, and I make the next to last turn, the one that brings me up the roads to the gate at the fair grounds, and then there it is- the left turn to home!  I bolt as fast as my worn out little hedgehog legs will carry me, and through the finish in less than 4 hours I go!

Final stats

3:59:24

45/94 overall, 16/45 women, 6/14AG

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Jack  Bristol Lake Waramaug 50K

Jack  Bristol Lake Waramaug 50K

April 29, 2018

So I cant even begin to tell you how long its taken me to actually grow enough bravery to actually sign up for this race.  I can joke and tell you its my friend tracy's fault that I finally did it.  But the reality is, sometimes your friends are the ones that know you well enough to know what you are capable of doing.

An ultramarathon seems daunting.  You can do the “its only 5 more miles” argument easily enough, but it seems scary.  I've contemplated this race for probably 5 years. There's even been a few years where ive said I would do it, and then just never did.  I barely had the energy to go to work most days, and I had even contemplated stopping running marathons, let alone an ultra, because I had a job that was sucking the life right out of me. But this year was a year of big changes for me.  I left that awful job. I started eating better. I started paying attention to what * I* needed.  So Tracy and I made a deal- I'd run Lake Waramaug, and she'd train with me for us to run Boston qualifiers at Boston, so we cold run Boston in 2020.

So I finally signed up one cold day in March.  And thankfully I had some guidance on some long runs after that- talks of strategy- whats worked in the past, what hasnt, some of the different theories.  And then there was Race Eve pizza. That was awesome.  So was the wonderful night's sleep that comes with consuming that many carbs.

The drive out to New Preston is really pretty, the hour or so just flew by.  The northwest corner of the state is more untouched by the gross population density that's poisoning the 91 corridor, so its such a breath of fresh air to be out there.  Or it would be.  If it wasn't raining.  Like lube up your entire body with Aquaphor raining.  Which is what I did.  Right down to the skin creases of my little pinkie toes.

Got to the race site, grabbed my bib, and what is quite a nice shirt- has the logo for the race, and that's its.  Nicely understated, not loaded with race sponsor stuff on the back.  Plenty of portalets, which is always a relief.  Hung out with Tracy, avoided the rain, and soon enough, time to go.  Its right around  50, but pretty chilly, so long sleeves and thin gloves it is.  I'm figuring i'll shed them if it ever warms up, but its supposed to rain most of the race, so not likely.

I learn an interesting thing about ultras(or at least this ultra)- no one wants to be the first up at the start line.  At a shorter race, you are often fighting through the crowd just to get seeded somewhere reasonable.  But everyone is laid back.  Final instructions for the race director, and we are off!

First leg of this race is a 2.2 mile out and back- we will see this road along during the race, as its also on the loops we will be doing 3 times.  We are the only ones running this direction, as the 50 Mile and the 100K both started an hour earlier than us.  The road rolls a little bit here, but just enough to relieve your legs, not enough to be anything challenging.  I'm the first woman at this point, this is a small race, with only 52 total finishers, 24 of which are women.  I grab some water at the first turnaround, and have a few bites of honey stinger waffles.  This is a long distance, and I do not intend to blow up along the way.  I hit the first turnaround, then head back toward the start for the 3 loops around the lake, followed by one last out and back.  As I get towards the start, my garmin tells me ive had a quick mile- didn't feel like it, but you never know- race miles always feel different than regular miles.

I head along the Lake(thats whats best about this race- just keep the lake on your left, and you cant get lost), and another woman catches up to me- shes also doing the 50K, her first as well.  Shes looking stronger, and at only 5 miles in, I'm not chasing her.  This is my first, and my one and only goal is to finish and enjoy it.  The rain is actually a blessing today- its keeping it cool, which doesn't always happen at the end of April.  This is the toughest section of the race- there's one less aid station this year, we go a little over 4 miles in this stretch- id made sure to grab 2 waters at the start line aid station, and ill grab 2 at the next as well.

My garmin continues to try to tell me I'm running 8 min miles through this stretch, but no way does it feel like that. I hit the aid station at the beach, and they are well stocked! I grab myself a piece of pb&j and some coke, and head on my way.  Hunger is different when you running, at least for me anyway.  Food often tastes better when I'm eating while running, than it does at other times.  And let me tell it, that was like the best pb&j I think ive had.

I hit the start line- my first loop is done! Only 2 more and an out and back to go. I look at the garmin, it says ive got 13 something miles done. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. That's not right.  Know how food is awesome while running?  Know whats not awesome while running?  My math skills.  I keep trying to figure out how 2.2 + 2.2 + 7.6 = 13 something, when it should have been 12.  I try desperately to account for the garmin margin of error, and its still not coming up right. Needless to say, this kept me entertained for probably the next 5-6 miles, all while my garmin keeps telling me I'm running 8 min miles that have the fatigue feeling of 9 min miles.

Its also somewhere along this loop that I look down, and realize there's blood on my legs.  Awesome. All that rain that kept me cool? Apparently is also rained through all my anti chafe measure.  I do a body scan- nothing is screaming on fire, so its probably just the band of my shorts, that's the most likely culprit because of those strong girl thighs ive got.  I hit the aid station that's at the end of the 2.2 mile out and back, and ask if anyone has vaseline.  They do! I may or may not have squealed and jumped up and down like a 3 year old on Christmas morning.  I grab a sandwich in one hand, a big glob of vaseline in the other, and run over to the portalet. I check- thankfully the only injury are the thighs- I'm putting the vaseline on, and its bleeding through while I'm putting it on.  eh.  At least it doesn't hurt.  It'll hurt later, but it doesn't right now.  I get my skirt all fixed again, grab my sandwich(id been holding it in my mouth), and off I go.  I come out of the portalet- its a woman!  I literally said, “oh hell no!” and took off like a rocket. I already let one woman pass me, I'm not letting another.  Nothing like competition to light a fire under you, and this did.  I doubt I was running the sub 8's my crazy garmin was telling me, but its all good. I am still feeling good at this point- apparently I run well on honey stinger waffles, pb&j, and coke/mountain dew.

I pass the start line for the second time, grab a couple sodas and some oreos...have I mentioned that Tracy described running this race as “a buffet”? I really like the race setup of loops- I know some runners don't like the repetition, but for me, I can say, ive got 2 out and backs and 3 loops.  And that seems a lot easier than 31 miles.  The rain is starting to slow at this point, but thankfully its not getting that warm humidity that sometimes happens after the rain.  I definitely don't need to take the gloves off.  While I'm on this loop, one of the other runners asks what ive got for mileage asks me about mileage- apparently his garmin is misbehaving.  I tell him mile says 23 miles, which throws him off- he didn't realize I was a loop ahead. I also tell him that its not right, its a couple miles ahead of what it should be.  I think.  Ive reached the point in the race where I barely know my own name, let alone demonstrate any capability for complex math such as adding 2.2 + 2.2 + 7.6 + 7.6 + something...... we wish each other luck, and I keep plugging along.

Food is getting a little harder to chew at this point, I'm mostly just grabbing a couple sodas at each aid station, which really works wonders.  Its liquid, and its calories.  And apparently doesn't wreck my stomach like gatorade.  I spend the rest of this loop contemplating while races don't just serve soda.  Its cheaper, and works better.

I hit the start line, and ask how long I have left. I think that threw the volunteers off a little bit, and I told them my garmin had lost its mind at some point- it was telling me id already run 30 miles, and I still had the 1.9 mile out and back to go.  I went on my way, and who do I see?  The lead woman!  I work on just keeping a steady pace, and I actually start reeling her in a little.  On the far side of the loop, I finally catch her, and we run a few tenths of a mile together to the turn around.  We chat a few minutes, and then she heads off.  I'm finally starting to feel tired by this point, and shes got a little more than me in the tank.  As I'm coming back in, I see Tracy, running with Jason, and she gives me a high 5 and tells me to go catch her.  I try, I really do.  But man, those last miles are HARD.  I push as much as I can, and the runners heading the other direction(either still on loops, or on their last out and back) give me encouragement, but it doesn't happen.  I see her finish, and then stumble run into the finish, a measley 37 seconds behind her.  31 miles, and I finished second by 37 seconds.  But this was still a huge accomplishment! I finished my first 50K (yes, I said first. Not “one and only”).  I'm cant be more happy with how it went.

I waited under the first tent, watching for Tracy to come in, and chatting with some of the others that had finished.  Tracy comes in in a great time of 5:17. We spend some time warming up, and changing in to some drier clothes.

And that crazy business with the wonky paces and the extra miles(34.7 when race was 31...)? yep, that would be a garmin that lost gps by mile 5.   And apparently this model doesn't tell you when you've lost signal, so you're just left wondering why nothing makes sense.

Even finishing this up a little over a month after I ran the race, its still fresh in my mind.  I definitely enjoyed the whole experience, and cant wait to run this race again.

Final stats:

4:49:50

5/52 overall, 2/24 women

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Newport Half Marathon

Newport Half Marathon, April 14, 2018

its funny, I joked about today was one of the first times ive made an adult decision....last year I had to downgrade from full to half because of a sinus infection, this year I had actually signed up for the half ahead of time, so that it would be a buildup to Rhinebeck. Normally if I'm making the drive to Rhode Island, I opt for the full, since I'm driving the 1:40 to get there.

So all is well leading up to the race, training is going well(eating more donuts than I should though, lol), and the drive to head over there is no exception.  While CT is normally pretty stinky for traffic, at 5am, its not so bad.  I usually plan to get there pretty early- we actually shuttle to the start area, so I build in even more time than my Type A personality normally dictates.  Hop on the bus, and I'm over to the start area by 645a.  Turns out it was a good thing I was early this year- they changed the bib pickup process, and it significantly increased the time it all should have taken.

Last year, they had separate lines for the 3 races, and HM people were grumbling they had to wait when there wasnt a line at the Full. So this year was just one long line.  Great in theory, except the races have 3 different start times(to ease congestion on course), and then the volunteers were tripping over each other finding bibs(because you weren't walking up to a line that was designated by race and letter of last name), and then they were having to pull the marathoners waiting in line to the front so they could get them their bibs so they could start on time. Then after getting my bib, then there was another line to wait to drop your bag in the gear check.  Then there were long lines for the portalets.  Honestly, its a good thing it wasn't my first time there, cause if i thought that was usual, i probably wouldn't run the race again. So between waiting in the bib line, the bag check line, and then the portalet line, i was stepping out of the portalet at 744. Literally. Ran around the barriers(which were protecting the sand dunes, which is actually the catalyst for why this race is even run in the spring and not the fall anymore...), wiggled my way up in the starting area(yay for being short and able to duck under everyones arms...), and got myself up far enough that I wouldn't have to do as much dodging, and then off we went!

But honestly? All is forgiven.  This course is among the best, I can't forsee missing it.  And this company is awesome about listening to feedback, I have no doubt that what happened yesterday won't happen again, they will make sure its fixed. When I reached out they acknowledged that a lot of issues were how many people are showing up at the very last minute- and when you have 500 arrive in the half hour before start, there's just no way that's going to go well.  They can't control other people not recognizing the need to show up with time to do what needs to be done.

Thankfully, the hardest hill on the whole course is in the first mile.  Terribly, the hardest hill on the whole course is in the first mile.  This course is by no means flat, but this is actually my favorite type, I find rolling hills much easier than ones that are flat flat flat.  So we leave Easton's Beach in our dust, head past whats the start of the Cliff Walk, head out along Narragansett Ave, and by mile 2, we get our first glimpse of the bay as we run along Wellington Ave.  its been downhill and flat since cresting the first hill, and there's a light wind that's keeping things cool, which is nice, because the sun is seriously about being sunny today.  While 52ish degrees seems like nothing, when breaking 30 has been a warm day of late, this is a bit of a shock.  Its actually the first day ive run outside in anything less than short sleeves since sometime back in October, soooooooooooo.....

We take a short detour away from the ocean, but past some pretty houses, and up some rolling hills through here, as we make our way first through Fort Adams State Park, which is a little lollipop that I always think of as the “yacht club,” as there is one located in here, so its just how I always remember it.  Its here that I start passing some of the marathoners, who started about 15 minutes ahead of us.  I pass a woman wearing a Skirt with the Mantra print- I didn't get a good look at it, but it looked as though the whole skirt was covered in that print, which I couldn't remember there being, so I couldn't resist telling her how much I liked it.

After this loop, we head a little more inland for the next couple miles- past some big houses, a couple farms, and lots of quiet roads.  While the roads aren't closed to traffic, its never a problem, and I'm never nervous about the situation.  Right after Mile 5 I pass the 5hr pacer for the marathon, looking nice and strong.  Just another few tenths, and you can start to smell the ocean- a precursor to the my favorite part of the course, the run along Ocean Drive, which we turn onto soon enough.  The sun has continued to stay strong promising that spring is coming(LIAR!!!), and I realize I never put suntan lotion on...silly me!  I'm not used to actually seeing the sun anymore, not after the winter we have had.  The breeze along here is just glorious, its light, its sideways, and not having an impact. The firs aide station to have Nuun is here, although the poor volunteers are still saying its Gatorade, but if you read the athletes guide, you know differently. I'm always excited when Nuun is on course, I've loved the brand for years, and actually became a Nuunbassador this year.

Along Ocean Drive, we meander through Brenton Point State Park, and I note how much the surf is up this year.  I kinda wish I had my camera, but I'm not usually a fan of stopping to take pics while I'm running, mostly cause I usually forget to restart my watch, and that makes me nuts, lol.  Around 6.5, we pass what I always think of as Rhode Island Stonehenge.  I'm sure it has some sort of significance, but having never had the opportunity to come to this spot, ive never figured out what it really is.  Around mile 8 we hit what is considered the Historic District, and the tops of some of the famous mansions become visible from here.  So we've got mansions on one side, and beaches on the other(clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right?), and just a little before Mile 10, we take the turn onto Bellevue Ave.  From this direction, first is Marble House(a home owned by the Vanderbilts), followed by Rosecliff, then we make the right onto Ruggles Ave, which cuts us over to Ocher Point Ave, where the famous Breakers(another Vanderbilt mansion) is located.  Since we are on the roadside, you are peeking over the big walls at it, but its still really cool to be able to run past.  

We run from the mansions past Salve Regina university, and all I can think is how cool it must be to go to college so close to all this history.  After this, we do a zig and a zag to take us back along Memorial Blvd, and down that big hill we traversed 12 miles ago. I've slowed down over the last couple miles, and its funny to think the heat got me at 52, but I did.  I could feel worse, this type of slowing is just the natural preservation your body does, whether you like it or not.  The hardest part of this hill is how far you can see- you actually can see the finish line from here, but its oh so far away.  It makes the last mile seem a little long, but its all good!  Make the final turn into Easton's Beach, and then along the ocean side of the buildings we run to the finish!

My goal for today was to just run this race and feel strong- im focusing on improving my ability to run by feel, and get some of my speed back- and then build upon that for Hartford in the fall, so that i can get a BQ i can use for Boston in 2020.

And as a side note- I did reach out to the race organizers about some of the issues that happened, and they were fast to respond, and open to feedback about what I had seen work better at other races.  And THAT is why I will continue to support them, because they want to make this an awesome experience, every time that you step foot on one of their courses.

Final stats

1:45:23 (fastest HM since March of 2016!!!!!)

146/1121 overall   46/740 women   11/191 F 30-39(5th if it had been a 5 year AG)

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Middletown 10 Mile, April 8, 2018

Middletown 10 Mile Race, April 8, 2018

Happy belated birthday to me!  It was the day before the race really, but close enough.  Did the usual pre race dinner- nothing fancy, all full of carbs.  The race is a little difference this year- they changed it from a half marathon to a 10 miler, and took out some of the bigger hills on the course.  Looking at the map ahead of time, its still a course that's going to keep you honest, which I always like.

This race also starts later than normal, always a nice treat to get to sleep in a race morning, instead of the usual getting up 2 hours earlier than normal. Perk of today- I don't as often race in coller temps, so I get to wear my awesome Jette capri in Gotham, which took many many years of hunting to finally track down.   Parking is easy for this race, and free, since its a sunday, Middletown doesn't charge.  I get there with plenty of time to head over and get my bib and my shirt.  They write down the number  I head  assign, as the computers aren't behaving this morning. I wander back to the car, and since plenty of time to kill, sit and crochet until its closer to race start.  I then head back over, hit the portalets and the bag check, and then up to High Street for the race.

The temps have come up a little bit- it was 28 when I got up, and they were predicting around 40 for the start, but 40 is a funny temp.  Definitely capri weather, but the top half is tougher.  If its a cold and windy, you need LS and gloves. If its sunny, ss top and gloves that fit in a pocket, because they're gonna be coming off.  They also have divided the starts this year, 10 mile on one side of the street, 3.5 mile race on the other side.  The usual fanfare, and then we are off!

The first loop of the course wraps around Wesleyan College, we will call it a counterclockwise direction.  The campus is on the left, one of the older graveyards in Middletown(i believe from late 1700s or early 1800s)is on the right. We hit the firehouse, and take a right so we can wrap around the athletic fields.  Around a mile and a half is the first stop, and one of the more enthusiastic entertainers on course- shes out with a mic in the middle of the road, high-fiving while doing her thing.  Its getting warm, so time for the gloves to come off- thank god for pockets, or I'd probably be stuffing them in my bra! It didn't take long to warm up, but I definitely wouldn't have wanted to be without them. Just after the fields we take a left, head back towards the main part of town, through a residential part, and then through the campus, and down the hill by the library, and back onto High Street. Trust me, its MUCH better this way. The first couple years of the half, we actually came along High Street in the opposite direction, and had to go up this hill(basically running the loop the opposite way we do now).

On High Street the 3.5 mile splits off to head to the finish, and we keep going back past the start, for one more loop through south Middletown, before we get our own Main St finish. We head the same loop, past the graveyard, past the athletic fields, and past the fun entertainers.  Amazingly, its already 5 miles, so whip out the Honey Stinger chews, my snack du jour for the race today.  Seemd the best choice with the chiller temps- they are more tolerant than the waffles of the cold, so down below 40, these tend to be the better choice.  Trust me.  I experimented a lot with that over the long, long, frigid winter.  I peek at some of my mile splits, but I hadn't really set any goals for this race, my main thing was wanting to run by feel, and finding a pace that left me tired at the end, but not the drop dead exhausted that comes from running a 5K.  Through the first 5 miles, pace is a little better than I expected, and I'm feeling good, so on the right track.  I've had some issues during longer rungs with feeling a little lightheaded, which for me means I'm not getting my fueling quite right.

The later part of the race is also a reverse of sorts- we cut off the section running through Wesleyan Hills and past the Wesleyan Barns, instead going up the road past Vinal Tech, instead of down the roads like previous years.  There is also of up and down in this race, but that's just Middletown, I don't think there's a quarter mile stretch of road that's truly flat, but that's what gives this race character. We hit the 7 mile mark, and I start to get a little antsy- I'm starting to have some burning in my legs, so I'm pushing hard enough I know i'll be happy to be done!  We head back toward town, down a dirt road(all down hill, this is a fun part!!), and the past Wadsworth Mansion on our trajectory back toward the Wesleyan athletic fields.  We hit the corner where we made a left to do the first loop and a straight to go into south middletown, but this time we turn right, so now running the reverse of the loop, with the athletic fields on the right.  Legs are feeling more tired, and I keep up the “one more mile” mantra- you can do anything for a mile, right??  On toward Rt 66, the graveyard is on the left, wonder if the ghosts came out to watch?  Turn the corner to go across the front of the campus, and see the second best sign- the 9 mile marker! I pick it up for the final stretch, hitting High Street, taking the left onto Court Street, which is allllllllllllllll down hill, and to my surprise- one of the course volunteers is an APO brother! Shes from CT, but I hadn't talked to her in a few years, so didn't know she was still around!

A right turn onto “The Most Romantic Main St in New England,” and I hit the jets for the last few tenths, and I'm in!  

I head over to check my results, but nothing comes up! I grab a volunteer to help me get it sorted out, she tells me to give it a few minutes. I take advantage, and hit the massage tent since there's no line.  By the time I do that and grab my bag, ive got my results- and not only did I run a 9 second PR< but I got 2nd in my AG as well!  I ask at the awards tent about the ceremony, they said its about 35 minutes away, which gives me the perfect time to do a side trip up to NoRA cupcakes, picking up birthday cup cakes for me and the hubs, and back just in time for the ceremony.  I get my award, and then head home for my celebratory cupcake and beer.

Final stats:

1:17:09

86/602 overall, 23/347 women, 2/46 F35-39

[gogohedgehoglegs]

Why Do I Run?

  So this is something i don’t think about anywhere near often enough. I got into running because I wanted to lose weight, but that was only the beginning.

   The love affair started in early 2005, I just didn’t know it at the time.  I started running just 20 minutes a day, at a pace I can now walk on a treadmill at...but I did it.  The girl everyone always made fun of in gym class for not being able to do anything...she ran.

    It kept going from there- a little bit longer, a little bit faster. And a little bit longer, and a little bit faster.  I ran just to try to get myself healthy, and to take off some of the stresses of life.

   2010 led to the most life changing thing for me- a friend asked me to run a 5K, and I said yes.  We never ended up doing it together, because she found out she was pregnant, but my husband stepped in and walked it with me, since I had already picked a date.  So I walked that first one, and then ran another a few weeks later, and after that, I was hooked!

   Some of my friends found out just how long I would run for, and encouraged me to pick a longer distance, and so I set a goal of running my first half marathon in October of 2010, and in the process, realized all the comraderie that comes with these races, and set an even bigger goal for myself.

   As a belated 30th birthday present, I entered the Mt Desert Island Marathon in October of 2011(i turned 30 in April of that year)- one that is definitely not easy, but takes place in one of my favorite places on earth, Bar Harbor, Maine.  To this day that was one of the hardest, and best things, that I have ever done for myself.

   From there, the love of running grew- i ran more races of all distances, and continued to set goals to improve my time, including running my first Boston Qualifier at the Hartford Marathon in October 2012, and running the amazing Boston Marathon in 2014.

   But running stopped being just about fitness once and long ago- i started meeting people and making new friends, amazing ones who supported me in all my crazy endeavors.  A friend turned me on to a brand of running clothes, Skirt Sports, which got me to do something I hadn’t done since I was in 1st grade or so....WEAR PINK!  Now, that seems like a silly thing, but because I was such an awkward kid, I avoided wearing “girly” things, like pink, because I was trying to toughen my image.  But I realized something- I WAS tough, and i could look and feel pretty doing it!  

    Being introduced to this brand has brought about some other amazing things- in 2015, I was accepted as a Skirt Sports Ambassador for the first time, which was such a huge thrill, that this company wanted me to represent them!  Over the years since, I’ve met amazing women through this program, and it’s served to support me through highs and lows, because theres always someone that can relate that I can talk to.  it honestly feels like its been forever that I’ve been a part of this amazing group of women.

     So fastforward 29 marathons, 42 half marathons, and a few other distances as well, and I still have to remember to ask myself, “Why do I run?”  These last few years have been tough, life has thrown some curveballs my way, and getting out of bed to do one of the things i love most is alot harder than it used to be.  It makes me sad that I don’t have the energy for it that I once did, and I’ve had to make some concessions about how often I’m racing and how far I’m racing, but I’m still running....and drawing on the strength running gives me.

   Because honestly, that mental toughness helped me make one of the hardest decisions I have made in a long time- to leave a job I wasn’t in love with, even though it was going to mean less money, different hours, and a whole new aspect of my profession to learn.  And 13 years in, did I really want to turn everything on it’s head?

    But what have those thousands of countless miles taught me?  That I can do what I want, and that I have the strength to make the best choice for me, even if its not the easiest choice.

     So where would I be if I had never stepped foot on a treadmill?

[gogohedgehoglegs]

not too chilly morning for 16 miles - longest since Roxbury ! #skirtsports #skirtsportsambassador @skirtsports #hshive #stingorbeesrung #wafflewarrior #nuunbassador #nuunlife @honeystinger @nuunhydration

[gogohedgehoglegs]

I’m thrilled to announce that I will be joining Skirt Sports for another as a Ambassador! what started for me as a love of a product had become so much more! This is the most amazing group of supportive women who are there to cheer you on, not just in races, but in all aspects of your life!

you can use my discount code for 15%off full price items as many times as you like: 783Russ

#skirtsports #realwomenmove #skirtsportsambassador @skirtsports