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Friday Favorites

May 6, 2011 by Kristy 10 Comments

I may do an easy run this afternoon since the weather is so nice and I’m really antsy to run again.

But for now, it’s Friday Favorites time!

Gossip Girl
I’m a little embarrassed to admit this one…yes, I love the show Gossip Girl. It’s the ultimate guilty pleasure. At least I have company. My friend Michelle loves it just as much as I do. We love Chuck Bass. He’s got the best one-liners. In fact, for my birthday a few years ago, I got this from Michelle…

chuck bass — Poor quality picture but it says "good Bass is hard to find". I love it.

Date Night
For Christmas this past year, Matt and I decided to plan “date nights” for each other instead of buying gifts. My date night for him is tomorrow. We plan on hanging with Hawk at a park, having lunch outside, and going to see The Airborne Toxic Event at the Trocadero on Saturday night. Fun, fun, fun!

DSCN0252 — Hawk is thrilled to be included in date night

May Fun Runs
Since I don’t start officially training again until the end of May, I got nothing but fun runs scheduled until then. All I have to do is maintain my base by running whatever distance I want at whatever pace I want. So liberating. I may even go sans Garmin!

This is a picture of a meerkat I took at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney. It makes me laugh every time I see it. Not sure what it has to do with fun runs though.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Happy Mother’s Day!

Review of the FIRST Training Plan

May 4, 2011 by Kristy 6 Comments

I never mentioned the actual name of the marathon I’m running on 9/11. It’s the Leigh Valley Marathon (or Via Marathon). It’s a point-to-point course starting in Allentown, PA and ending in Easton, PA. The course was designed by the wonderful Bart Yasso! I love Bart!

I wanted to do a review of the FIRST training plan, which I used for the NJ Marathon. For a description of the plan and the modifications I made, please see this post. Overall, I really liked it and will be using it again (with modifications) for the LVM.

What I liked:
1. The FIRST program has specific Boston qualifying plans. For NJM, I used the 3:50 plan and I liked that all my workouts were focused on getting me to run a 3:50 marathon.

2. Nothing but quality workouts. There are 3 key runs per week: speed, tempo, and long. I added a 4^th run each week (an easy run) to increase my overall mileage. These key runs were hard but since my overall mileage was lower, my body could handle them.

3. The speed workouts each week nearly killed me; but they absolutely without a doubt made me faster.

4. The tempo runs were manageable and I was able to do them without too much difficultly.

5. I felt the long runs were a little easy. I often ran faster than I was supposed to but I generally do that anyway (see this post for an explanation). My endurance is much greater than my speed and this training plan made that very apparent as I was sucking wind at the track!

6. I only had 1 case of “brick legs”. Usually when I train for a marathon, this happens a few times. Again, I attribute this to less overall mileage.

7. Running 4 days a week allowed more time for yoga, which I desperately needed during this training cycle.

What I did not like:

1. Even though running 4 days a week was a plus, I had to get over feeling like a lazy slug. I have always run 5 days a week, with 2 rest days. But I really wanted to make yoga a top priority so I kept to the 4-days-a-week running regime. With 3 tough runs a week and 1 easy run, I don’t think running a 5^thday would have any added value.

2. My overall mileage was low. I had to get over this too. I maxed out at 43 miles per week! My body doesn’t thrive well on high mileage (I consider that to be 60s and 70s) but in previous training cycles I was getting into the 50s. It was hard to not see those numbers climb higher than 43 but I think my legs were thankful.

3. This wasn’t an issue for me but I want to give warning to anyone thinking of using this plan. There is no base building phase. Most plans have you build mileage first (slowly and safely) before you do speed work. With the FIRST plan, you literally “hit the ground running” (pun intended) with speed work. I wouldn’t recommend this plan for beginners. If you don’t have a strong base of 30 miles per week established add about 6 weeks onto this training plan to get your base building time in. You’ll be less likely to get injured.

What training plan are you currently using? Or are you winging it? I love seeing what plans people use to train. It’s such a matter of preference.

Looking Ahead

May 4, 2011 by Kristy 20 Comments

So that Boston itch remains UNscratched. What next? Funny you should ask…

Two weeks ago Matt put the idea in my head to search around for another marathon prior to September (when Boston 2012 registration opens up). This way I wouldn’t have so much pressure to BQ at the NJ Marathon (especially since I didn’t train to BQ). I told you he was my biggest cheerleader and supporter.

After Sunday’s race, I didn’t think I was mentally up for doing this again. But a changed perspective has me thinking that if I don’t go for it again, I will regret it.

I found a somewhat local marathon on September 11th, the day before Boston 2012 registration opens. I had to laugh because their FAQs clearly state:

Per the Boston Athletic Association: A qualifying race run on September 11, 2011 can be used to register for the Boston Marathon as soon as September 12, 2011. The Boston Athletic Association verifies races online through our Results page.

Well, that’s all I need to know. So I’m in! Sign me up 🙂

This actually works out well time-wise for me. I get to take a brief break, go to Ireland, and not worry about training (this makes Matt very happy). Then when I get back I will still have a full 15 weeks to train. And you bet I’ll be training to BQ this time around!

NJ Marathon Recap

May 3, 2011 by Kristy 22 Comments

I’ll break this recap up into 2 parts – the first 13.1 and the second 13.1 – because I feel they were very different races and routes.

DSCN0286 — A very early wake-up call! Like my I Support Adoptions logo?

DSCN0289 — And pimpin' out the blog on the back. Don't judge the Race Ready shorts!

The First 13.1
When we parked near the start it was 6am and the sun was just starting to come up. It was chilly out – high 40s – and no wind whatsoever. Perfect race weather. When we lined up at the start it was close to 8am and the sun was shining brightly. It was warming up…fast. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky so I knew all hopes for a cloudy day were off.

During mile 1 I realized my iPod wasn’t working right. The music was playing but there were no words and all the songs were mixing together. Instead of freaking out, I decided to play a “name that tune” game. That got old real fast.

My game plan for the first 13.1 were to run smart and hold back. I watched the 3:50 pace group race way ahead of me. Their balloons were always within sight but they were going out way too fast.

The course was really nice for the first half. We ran through neighborhoods and gorgeous houses. People were out on their front lawns with hoses (thank you!). All the runners around me seemed quite chipper and chatty. Of course, this is always the case during the first half 😉 Ever notice how quiet it gets at mile 20?

The marathon started at 8am and the half marathon didn’t start until 8:30. Around mile 8.5, I got passed by the winner of the half marathon. Seriously?! He was running that fast.

Splits:
M1 – 8:57
M2 – 8:42
M3 – 8:46
M4 – 8:49
M5 – 8:39
M6 – 8:45
M7 – 8:41
M8 – 8:39
M9 – 8:42
M10 – 8:28
M11 – 8:40
M12 – 8:30
M13 – 8:30

The Second 13.1
I was feeling really good crossing the halfway point (as you can see from my splits at miles 12 and 13). In fact, according to my pace chart, I was closer to a 3:45 finish time that a 3:50. Yet, the 3:50 pace group was still ahead of me. I never trust pace groups.

Before I started the race Matt told me to “go for it” (meaning go for the BQ). He told me to leave everything out on the course and don’t finish thinking “I could have gone faster”. He knows me too well. I’m a conservative racer. I only run the pace that I trained for. In order to BQ, I had to go faster than what I trained for. If I failed miserably, I knew I would probably still PR. So I decided to ignore my Garmin for the second half (GASP!) and run based on feel. Gusty move for this conservative racer 🙂

I banged out miles 14 to 19 fast. The course during those miles was awful. A long, straight stretch of black asphalt with nothing but sun beating down. I could feel my face getting redder and hotter by the minute (sidenote: since I knew my chances of getting dehydrated were high, I chugged 2-3 cups of water at each aid station…beginning at mile 2). At mile 19 I was annoyed for numerous reasons:
1. The course was pissing me off. We would go down random streets and go around random lakes just to make up mileage. I could always see all the runners ahead of me and where they were going. There was so much twisting and turning.
2. This bald guy next to me kept launching snot rockets. Like every 10 seconds. Loudly. I couldn’t loose him either.
3. The sun was pissing me off.
4. My left quad felt crampy.

At mile 20, my quad really hurt so I stopped at the aid station and stretched it. At this point I knew I wouldn’t BQ and I was OK with that. I still thought I could pull off a 3:50. The stretching helped a little and I started back on the lonely stretch to the finish. I had passed the 3:50 pace group at mile 14 (that’s how fast they went out…it took me 14 miles to catch up to them). I was nearing mile 22 and I heard them behind me. When they got next to me, I hopped right into the group. There were about 8 of them and I thought if I could just hang with them, I could guarantee a 3:50. I tucked in and tried to ignore my spastic quad. I lasted with them for a mile. Without even consciously thinking about it, I stopped and walked. I watched the 3:50 pace group go. This was a very low moment.

I was hot and my quad was going crazy. It felt like it was in a constant state of contraction. I altered my stride and did a “gimp-skip”. It wasn’t pretty but it got me to the finish.

Around mile 25.5, Mr. Snot Rocket made a reappearance by my side and said to me, “Let’s go kid. I don’t care if you have to drag that leg across, you are finishing!” I actually laughed because he called me “kid”. He gave me that little boost of motivation to pick up my ~~gimp~~ pace and get to the finish line quickly. Thank you Mr. Snot Rocket…sorry I gave you a dirty look at mile 19.

Splits (some of these are averages, I forgot to “lap” my Garmin):
M14 – 8:24
M15 – 8:25
M16 – 8:22
M17 – 8:26
M18 – 8:38
M19 – 8:38
M20 – 9:04
M21 – 9:23
M22 – 8:55
M23 – 9:25 (the start of the “gimp-skip”)
M24 – 9:38
M25 – 9:38
M26 – 8:57

Official time: 3:52:59…a (very close) 6-minute PR! OK, so technically it’s a 5-minute PR.

Matt was at the finish line and said 1 person actually finished with the 3:50 pace group. There were 8 people with them at mile 23!

DSCN0293 — Post-race. We did get an awesome medal.

DSCN0296 — Deliriously happy, sad, frustrated, mad, and glad it's over all at the same time!

DSCN0297 — My biggest supporter and cheerleader!

DSCN0300 — I'm still dragging my left leg!

I feel really good today, better than I’ve ever felt post-marathon. My left quad is still sore but I really think it was due to dehydration. I’m not worried that I’m injured or anything. I’m going to enjoy a feel days of solid rest before attempting some easy runs. And in 2 weeks, I’ll be in Ireland!!!!!!

A Changed Perspective

May 2, 2011 by Kristy 7 Comments

I feel much better today, mostly in part to the kind comments and emails from all of you! I have to share with you a comment that Cindi made, which really sums up why marathoning can be so rewarding and frustrating at the same time.

We – distance runners of multiple marathons – are too hard on ourselves. We work ourselves like crazy for month after month until we KNOW we are ready to nail a certain time. But then the conditions aren’t right. Or we have an off day. Or something. There’s always something that seems to get in the way. The most frustrating part, with marathons, is that it is such a long process and takes so much out of us that we can’t just try again next week. Which is frustrating and disappointing.

Well said, Cindi!

The NJ Marathon “sorta” posted official race results this morning. I say “sorta” because I have a gun time but no chip time. Although I think my gun time – 3:52:59 – is really my chip time. I remember crossing the finish line and looking at the clock and it read 3:53:16 (I was about 15-20 seconds behind the gun time).

What made me happy? My overall gender results and age group results…
Gender place: 134/721
Age group place: 25/121

Race recap will be up tomorrow!

3 Marathons, 1 Year

May 1, 2011 by Kristy 11 Comments

My unofficial time for the NJ Marathon is around a 3:52. This is why I should be happy:

My 6th, 7th, and 8th marathons were all done in the span of a year.
6th marathon (May 2010): 4:13. %^&*!!!!! This was my 3 consecutive time finishing in the 4:10ish range. I was pissed.
7th marathon (October 2010): 3:58. Elated to finally break 4 hours AND score a 12-minute PR.
8th marathon (today): 3:52ish. Another PR…by about 6 minutes.

I should be thrilled, right? Usually, by your 8th marathon, PRs are hard to come by. I’m not happy though…in fact, I’m pretty bummed.

Today didn’t quite turn out as planned. No BQ and no 3:50. What makes me SO mad is that I ran faster training runs than I did today. I knew I could do it.

The sun took a toll on me. Temperature-wise the weather was perfect. But the sun was relentless. Running down the shore can be tough. Lots of long stretches of black asphalt and no shade. Today was no different. Not a cloud in the sky. Perfect beach day, but not for a race.

My left quad cramped up pretty badly at mile 20. This has never happened before so I think it may have been the heat…I was possibly getting dehydrated? Stretching helped for a little while but I ended up doing a “skip-limp” for the last 1.5 miles.

I’m allowing myself to feel bad for today ONLY. I know I’m being very hard on myself. I’m hoping in a few days I’ll actually be happy about my PR!

Full recap to come this week (with pictures)!

Again…thank you all for your texts, emails, tweets, and kind messages. I thought about all my loving family, friends, and blog buddies a lot during the race.

Congrats to everyone who raced today…Broad Street Runners, Big Sur, and Eugene runners!