keep on keepin' on..

Jun 25, 2010

I haven't updated my profile in a while, but I felt like I should. 

I've been keeping up with my running over the past few months - even though I feel as if I've been plagued by one injury after the next.  At the beginning of April I ran the Greater Hartford 1/4 Marathon, finishing in 1:11:11 and placing 11th in the Athena division.  It was an amazing race for me.  I had never run a race that long and it was intense.  I was still battling some shin splints, but I managed to finish and felt pretty great.  At the end of April I did a local 5k in Worcester, had a pretty decent time 30:24 and 17 out of 35 in my age group and 99/181 over all...slicing some time off of my 5k time which was most excellent. 

I really laid off the weight training in May - mostly because my trainer up and moved to Vermont on me...booo!!!! I started increasing my mileage in May, building up my endurance and clocking some longer runs.  At the end of May I ran a local 5k (my first in my Post Op PR jersey - which I'm CONVINCED is good luck now!!).  It was in Holland, MA and I ran my best 5k time yet - 28:33 finishing 33 out of 130 overall!!! I ended up 4th or 5th in my division - I was one or two people behind the woman who came in 3rd in my divisions (I can't remember if it was a guy between me and the woman who finshed 3rd or a girl)...so I was pretty pumped about that!!   I  kept a pretty good pace throughout, the last 1/2 mile was uphill but I knew that going in so I was ready for it. I do wish that I pushed it a little harder up that hill at the end though...but I'm still STOKED about my time!! 

At the beginning of June I ran a 10k in Granby, MA.  I'm kind of OCD about my pre-race routine so it TOTALLY threw me off that I got lost on my way to the park, ended up running to the registration table to grab my number and then to where the starting line *used* to be...because I passed the I passed the starting line officials who were walking back to the registration table on my way to the course.  I asked if the course was marked better than the park and they told me just to keep taking right turns and i'd be all set!  I did pass three people, who were walking, right at the beginning which made me feel a little bit better...hey, at least I wouldn't be the last one over the finish line!!!  I had to stop and stretch my butt/hip twice but was non-stop otherwise.  It was a pretty flat course, a couple of small hills, nothing too major.  I kept this one guy in my sights the entire race until he passed the girl in the green tank and then she became my marker.  We ran the last 1/2 mile together, it was her first 10k as well...and I managed to finish a second before her...come on, I had to pass her at the end!! :)  I was satisfied with my time, 1:08:01, I was hoping it would have been better...closer to an hour, but I hadn't done an official 10k yet, so I have to start somewhere! 

Two weeks ago, June 13th, I ran my first half marathon.  I'm not going to lie, I was WICKED nervous going into it, but I was determined not to vomit before the race...I normally get queasy the last 100 yards, but before I even start...that's so not me!!  My longest run prior had only been 11 miles - and even then the last 2 miles had been a horrible run/walk/jogging combo. And prior to that run it was a 9 miler a few weeks prior. Well anyways, It wasn't a bad day for a race, it was low 60's and misty when the race started..much better than the humid mess from last weekend! Sue D. and I ran the first 5 or 6 miles together (go team!)...I didn't really keep track...that's just a guess from looking at the map.  It was a pretty level course overall.    A nice downhill right at the beginning, a few hills between miles 3-4 (did not know those were there) the first one was okay, but the second or third one threw me for a loop and I thought I was going to hurl.  Too early for vomiting, so I walked up that one.  Sue left me in her dust somewhere between mile 5 & 6 (I'd guess), she was kicking some serious half marathon butt!!  I started to drag around mile 7, but I'm glad I picked it back up because a couple of my friends and my mom were waiting at mile 8 for me! That worked for the next two miles...at which point it's really only a 5K left..and who can't run a 5K, right?! :) Mile 11-12 was a nice sloping downhill - on a road I knew well so I was pumped that I knew EXACTLY  where I had to go to cross the finish line.  As I came the the mile 12 marker the cop that was standing at the intersection yelled to the group I was with, probably 3 or 4 of us, that we needed to 'haul some ass because we only had 1.1 miles to go and it was going to start raining!!' I thought it was hilarious! :) 

My goal was 2:30 and finishing in the top 1000 and I ended up with a time of 2:35:07 and 962nd place! I was pretty pumped about how close I was to my goal...and really just finishing as my longest run prior had only been 11 miles, so aces!!

I've developed an achey butt muscle that likes to kick in at about mile 2 when I'm running which is AWESOME...was kick ass during my half.  I kind of forget what it's like to run without something hurting...but I guess that's what happens when you're an athlete..your muscles hurt.  I should probably take some time off from running as I don't have anything scheduled until the end of July when I'm doing the running leg of a Tri...just a 5k. JUST a 5k.  Oh hell, a year ago I couldn't even run a mile and now it's JUST a 5k. 

How kick ass is this RNY...I am LOVING the way it's changed my life. :)

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