The Start of a New Season

Has it really been six months since my last post? Six months and 15+ pounds! I tried for most of last year to get some inspiration back for running. After the marathon I had a hard time getting into training consistently, mostly because I didn't want to train consistently, if that makes any sense. I had nothing major I wanted to accomplish, combine that with a freezing cold winter and I was pretty lazy with both my exercising and healthy eating.

One of my last posts mentioned trying to get the funk out... well I think six months later, maybe, I have done just that!! A change of the seasons helps. Both having the weather improve and the summer race season approaching, has put a spring in my step. My "runiversary" is coming up and I got inspired big time this past weekend for a couple of reasons. I'll get to that later. Now don't get the wrong idea, even though I haven't been blogging I have still been running, sporadically. I did quite a few late fall and winter races and my total race mileage for 2013 was 115. Not too shabby considering I was only 5 race miles down from 2012 and I wasn't really trying for most of the year!

Turkey Trot 2013

I decided to sign up for the Lake Effect Half Marathon again hoping that would keep me running through the winter. Well at least February, who knew winter would continue into April! I knew since I PR'd last year and had only done a long run of ten slow miles that my time wouldn't compare. I just tried to not have it be my worst time and that worked. Thanks goodness for the train wreck that was Oak Tree 2012!

Awesome spinner medal this year!

March came along and found my Dad running his first half marathon! I went back and forth on running with him, especially since I liked this race so much and finally we both came to the conclusion that I would spectate. So I went all out! I made tons of signs, drove around like a crazy person beeping and yelling, and totally teared up at the finish line. I am so proud! Can't wait to run one together. We also tried another race in Syracuse for the first time, The Shamrock Run. This was so much fun and we will be returning for sure!

One of many signs...

Before...

After!

I did set a goal at the beginning of the year to try to run 3-4 half marathons throughout the year so I would have reason to keep doing some long runs. In April, I did my first major race 3-peat by completing the Flower City Half Marathon. This was the first long distance race I did and I met some amazing people, who I still run with today, at HFM training in 2012.

Now I don't recommend my training plan, but I didn't run for the entire month leading up to the race. For one reason or another life just got in the way. I decided, after chatting with another runner, that I would go into the race with a run/walk method, and see how I felt going forward. I would run 2 miles and then walk 1. I also figured I would walk some of the major hills. When I started I felt great, I should have since my legs were very fresh! The weather was perfect and the race went so well for me. Yes I was super slow, but I found that  I didn't even need my run/walk strategy, my walk breaks were usually short and I had such a great time overall. I also saw lots of familar faces that I hadn't seen in a while and it helped me to remember why I love running and participating in races so much!

Accidental twins, me & Katie at the
Flower City Half Marathon

During the Lake Effect half Marathon I found myself running around the same pace as a girl Kaitlin. Turns out she is from Rochester too! We had a great time running and chatting and even though she smoked me at the finish line, I was secretly hoping we would run together again some day. Thank goodness for social media and my good memory, because I found Kaitlin on FB and we actually got together for a run this past Saturday. We messaged back and forth and I created a route based on where she wanted to start and how many miles she needed to do. Kaitlin had 10 miles on the schedule, she is training for her first full, I said I would join her for 5 so I found a loop. I felt like I was back to my old self planning routes and looking forward to running.

Turns out it was pretty sunny and warm Saturday morning but it was a beautiful run. There were tons of people out, it was sunny with a breeze and we had so much fun. It went by so fast and our pace matched pretty well. We made it back to our cars and I headed home and Kaitlin went back out on her own for some more miles. After I went home and got ready for the day I decided to head over to North Ponds Park in Webster to check out the Mind The Ducks 12 hour race. I could only stay for an hour or so, but I had so much fun cheering on my running friends and watching then accomplish this amazing acheievement. It got me thinking could I run for 12 hours on a 1-mile loop, I'm not sure but I think I want to find out!

This Sunday marks my "runiversary" with the Lilac Festival races. It was the first 5k race I trained for and began this whole running journey. In 2011 I ran the 5k, in 2012 I got cocky and ran both the 5k and the 10k, last year I was in Cleveland running my first full marathon and this year I plan to return to run just the 10k. I'll have a race report on Sunday or Monday.

And you thought you were done having to read my blog, I'm just getting started...again!

Flower City Race Report- Part Two

Where did this week go, holy cow! It didn't pass quickly because of all the running I've been doing, that's for darn sure. I have not completely given up, but my motivation is seriously lacking. I could totally relate to this post, but I haven't completed my marathon yet, yikes! I think it is a combination of the warmer weather, even though I know I should be running in it to get acclimated, and the fact that I hit my taper around the same time. I'm just burnt out too. Have I done a post like this before, I feel like I have, haha. Yesterday I did the shortest run I have done in a long time, and you know what, it actually felt really good. I ran 3.1 with Rob and he kept me moving, dare I say slightly above tempo pace, and I had fun. Isn't that what running should be about?! Hopefully it got me out of my funk. 12 miles this weekend!

Okay. Enough complaining, excuses:
On to part two of my race report...

So we left off going up Goodman approaching the first really big hill, into the Highland Park neighborhood. These people did not disappoint last year and I was looking forward to it again this year. Having them cheering and screaming and showing support in lots of ways, helps getting up the hill a bit more manageable. Here is some video from last year, hopefully you don't get motion sickness easily...

Other things that help, seeing your fellow running friends cheering you on. During this stretching I saw both Laura and Sara. I also got a laugh out of the red lawn chair sitting by the side of the road with chalk sign saying "temptation" with an arrow pointing to the chair. Once I got to the top of Goodman (not quite the top of the hill) I walked as we turned into the park and crested the hill. I picked up my pace before passing the drummers and spectators and used gravity to help push me down the other side of the hill. This is where it starts to get a little quiet and a little difficult. We continued to go through Highland Park with some more rolling hills, but I did enjoy some shade through this section. As we neared the entrance to Mt. Hope Cemetery there was a port-a-potty that I took advantage of for precautionary measures. Why have air conditioned port-a-potties not been invented yet? There is nothing worse when you are hot, sweaty and sticky then to get into a steaming box of you know what.

As we approached the entrance of the cemetery, I saw a sign saying it was the most peaceful section of the course, i.e. quiet and boring in my opinion. People on the FF FB page were commenting on how there were people in gorilla costumes at the entrance, maybe I was too much in my own head at this point but I did not see any gorillas. As soon as you enter the cemetery you are forced to go up a quick, but steep cobblestone hill. Ugh. There was a volunteer there this year that was tell you which side to scale and I really appreciated not having to think about that. You are rewarded at the top with a duet bagpipe and drummer playing beautiful music. Going through the cemetery you experience a lot of rolling hills and exposed areas of direct sun. Even my Dad was struggling on his bike and as I was going up a hill he said the course is really great, but this part kinda sucks. Or something of that nature. Yup Dad, you are correct, thanks for reminding me :) I think he got to see a lot of Rochester that he hasn't before and I know he enjoyed that. The volunteers in the cemetery were wonderful and cheering, but this is a long, boring stretch and I feel like it is when I need loud, crazy support the most! Leaving the cemetery is a water stop and I paused to fill up one of my empty water bottles and then kept moving. I love that most of the water stops are manned by high school sports teams, the kids are really energetic and show support for everyone. At this point I was pretty much running alone, Molly had dropped back a bit, and there were a couple other runners near, Rob and his bike was no where to be found (he wanted to give the runners space through the cemetery). I think he didn't want to ride his new bike over the cobblestone.

Then you enter the University of Rochester Campus and run along the Genesee River until you get back into the city. Usually I despise any race that runs this section. I am not quite sure when this aversion began, but a lot of races cover this ground. During our last training run through this section I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly it went by and overall how painless it was. It was here that I saw a firetruck and firefighters hanging out at an intersection that I realized I had see quite a few firetrucks throughout the morning (that weren't there last year) and I wondered if it was to have an increased presence because of the Boston tragedy. Towards the end of the stretch, approaching the Ford Street bridge, I ran into Cheryl. Not literally. She was by herself said she was struggling because she thought she had gone out too fast. I stayed with her for a short time and we ran and talked and I think it was a good distraction for both of us. I tried to encourage her, and told her what little of the course she had left. After all I had been one to answer her questions and encourage her to sign up for the HFM training to tackle her first half marathon. It was the least I could do. Plus I've been there before, and I know what it feels like, and I was just happy to be on the right side of this half marathon.

I got up onto the Ford Street Bridge and I knew that there wasn't too much left. My Dad was encouraging me and the police at the intersection noticed and commented on how I couldn't get rid of my coach, pretty funny. There is actually a not too hideous race photo of me with my Dad smiling and biking along side of me. I ran through Corn Hill and the crowds were increasing and a lot of race finishers were cheering wearing their medals and I couldn't wait to finish and get mine. I also ran by all of the NYPD police cars and NYC yellow taxi's that are in town for the filming of the Spider Man movie. Kinda cool! As I got closer to the arena I saw lots of familiar face cheering and calling my name and I was just happy to be finishing. Finishing a race in the Rochester area isn't complete until Ellen calls your name and she did, and I knew I had completed my 6th half marathon. I collected my medal and then waited in the chute to cheer Molly in. Katie found me and we talked about her sweet PR, my family found me and I even got to see an old college friend who heard my name being called and came over to congratulate me. Then we enjoyed some BBQ from Dino, hey it's kinda a tradition now. Overall it was a great time and it's amazing to see what I have accomplished over the last year.

Flower City Race Report- Part One

My sixth half marathon is in the books! I've done the same amount of half marathons in the first four months of this year, which was my goal for the entire year last year. Woohoo! I knew going into the race that I wasn't going to PR. I was just going to go with the flow and see how things shook out. I wish I could have gone a bit faster and that I didn't stop a few times, but overall it went well. I'm almost afraid to admit it but I am missing the cooler weather too. It was a bit hotter and sunnier then what I've been used to training in. I took two photos the whole time so this might be a bit wordy.

Getting ready in the AM went perfect and Rob and I were on our way. When we got downtown I decided to try and park in the same lot we parked in last year. Fail number one. The lot was full and then we got stuck in traffic right near the finish line. Drove by a lot and then did a u-turn to head back to the lot, passing my parents in the mean time. My parents parked in the lot I was heading for. In the mean time, with about 4-5 cars in between us, the parking machine ran out of tickets and was saying the lot was full. It wasn't even close to being full. Fail number two. So we all did u-turns and I had to head in the opposite directions as my parents. We went back to a parking garage, which was a block or two away, and got back in the line of cars and found a spot in the garage. In the meantime people are texting and calling me to figure out where I am and if I found a spot...ahhh very frustrated at this point. I head to the arena, eating my bagel on the move, and can't seem to locate my parents. I left Rob so I could go in and go to the bathroom, thank goodness the line was moving fast. I headed back out and in the meantime Rob found my parents. By now the pipe and drum band are playing and marching to the start line and I am not even heading in that direction yet. This is not how I like my pre-race ritual to go. I like to be early, organized and in place to enjoy some down time before GO.

They wore Boston Red Sox hats as a tribute, so cool!

Molly and Katie were under the 2:45 pacer sign so it was pretty easy to meet up with them. Thank goodness! We chatted a bit and listened to the National Anthem and Sweet Caroline, another Boston tribute, and sang along. Rob and Dad decided to bike along the course as I ran so that was a fun way to share the course and have some company as we went.

Found them!

Molly and I stuck together and Katie ran off to try to get a new PR (4 minutes under by the way!!). First few miles were pretty flawless. The race starts by passing the Susan B. Anthony house and this neighborhood does it right! The cheering, signs, music and people are a great way to get started.

Susie B. in the middle. From FF FB page .
Failure is Impossible!!!

We then headed by Frontier Stadium and back into the city where the crowds at the starting line had shifted a block and were cheering like crazy. During that stretch we got passed by the first few people leading the 5k, which didn't happen last year so they must have changed the 5k course. Dad and Rob rode ahead to the location that my sister and her family were hopefully going to be spectating from. As I approached the mile 4 water stop I saw them all on the left hand side and I saw my nephew Colin running towards me. When I got to him I got a high five and he ran with me back to everyone else. I know how much he loved coming last year and how he got a kick out of watching the water stop. So much that we played water stop in front of their house last year, me handing him a bottle of water, him pretending to take a sip, throw it on the ground and keep running on. So cute! Even Ainsley got to come, but I don't think she really understood what was happening and why we were all there.  

More love for Boston. From FF FB page.

We pressed on and I took some chews at the spot I remember taking them during training runs last year. We got to the Park Ave. neighborhood and this was a pleasant surprise. Last year there was no one in the area cheering, this year there were people and signs and they were all dressed in green to match. As we kept going they had another group of people with live music and an extra water stop, this was great.  Around this time Molly needed to stop and I decided to stop and wait for her. I chatted with my Dad and cheered for other runners going by. Once we got going I fell in line with Amy who was pacing and stayed with her for a stretch. After we made the turn on to Goodman Amy started looking for her Gu/Gel and she couldn't find any. I offered my chews but she said that the aid station coming up would have some. The day before I made the choice to only put one pack of chews in my belt, for long runs lately I have been doing two. I should have just done what I normally do. When we got to the aid station they had run out of gu/gel and so I offered chews to Amy again and she took a couple. As we continued UP Goodman, ugh, I just happened to look down as I was running by lots of empty packets of gu/gel laying on the ground, when I noticed one that looked puffier then the rest. Sure enough someone had dropped one and I picked it up and gave it to Amy. I think she was pretty excited. Turns out she found her gels after the race,  buried behind her cell phone in her belt, still glad I could help.

It looked something like this...

Since I don't have much of a weekly recap, I thought I'd break the race report into two...just to keep you coming back for more! Up next Highland Neighborhood, Mt. Hope, U of R and the finish!