Niantic Bay Half Marathon: 9/25/2011

At the risk of sounding like I am repeating myself, I couldn't get to sleep and I couldn't stay asleep. I always have pre-race jitters! Once we got to our hotel, I made sure I didn't forget anything:

I am always afraid I am going to forget something!

1. EnduroxR4 Recovery Drink, check
2. Gatorade, check
3. Water, Check
4. Roctane Gu, check
5. Garmin watch and heart rate monitor, check
6. Hat (Forgot my shades!), Check
7. Vaseline, for "The girls" and "The Armpits"! No chafing here! CHECK!

We stayed in the Marriott in Norwich, Ct. It was very nice, very clean - and even though they do a great deal of business with the casinos, noise levels were also fine!

The Room was Clean and Comfy

I think I wound up sleeping a total of 5 and 1/2 hours. Not what I planned, but I couldn't stop thinking...Beat 1:40, Beat 1:40, Beat 1:40. That was the time I was shooting for because  Coach told me on Wednesday,  "Beat 1 hour and 40 minutes! Your strong. You can do it!"

So at 6AM, I started my mantra, "I can do it! I can do it! I can do it!"

Finally, got out of bed , got dressed and went to the lobby area where they served breakfast.

Not a bad little breakfast buffet!

Wing-man Securing Our Coffees!

Breakfast of Champions

Wing-man and I both had oatmeal. I also had some fresh fruit. The Marriott served Starbucks. I should have bought a cappuccino - I don't really like Starbucks regular coffee. It's too strong.

This is My Speed of Coffee!

Wing-man and I are DD fans! Thank goodness there was a DD truck at the half!

Anyone else on the same page with us, here?

The Niantic Bay area was beautiful:

The run was very scenic:

Rocky Neck State Park

And the people of Niantic came out in droves. They were cheering and waving everyone on  - it was so nice! All you saw throughout the entire race was hundreds of people working together to make sure runners were hydrated and safe. The community outreach was beautiful! (Even though there was no National Anthem at the start of the race - you all know how much I love to sing the National Anthem at the beginning of a race!)

The Pavillion at the Start of the Race

My only other pet peeve, besides no National Anthem, was that after we walked a few hundred feet to the Pavillion, we all noticed there were no Port-O-Johns! Aaagh! Everyone was doin' a Jay-Wow in the woods!

In their defense - there were portable toilets on the race  - something I don't ever remember seeing before. And the race was really well-run and very organized.

Well, after my own Jay-Wow experience, I was feeling so Jersey Shore...

C'mon honey, make a nice face...

OKAY....

Ready to break that 1hour and 40 minute ceiling!!!!

On your mark, get set, go.... 

The start of the race was a bit hectic, as everyone tried to funnel into Rocky Neck State Park and onto the footpath. About 1/2 mile in, it got a little better.

At the start!

I kept a 7:30 pace for the first seven miles, then, the heat and humidity started to take its toll. My pace dropped down to a 7:40. I even dropped to 7:50 during mile 8...and I was really pushing myself. I kept praying that I would find the strength to finish strong and finish fast!

Whatever I did, I had to catch this woman:

Andy! 

I introduced myself to her after the race, of course making a fool out of myself, "Do you remember me? I was yelling at you about how great you look!"

She smiled. I asked her if I could interview her - she was great - and agreed. I totally screwed up my ipad (I'm new at this). All I got was:

I am so very sorry. I so wanted to share with everyone what great shape Andy was in - and what a total inspiration she was to me during the race. I tried to catch her throughout the race - I just had to catch this woman who's body was that of an olympic athlete! Of course, during the race I did not know she was ten years older than me! WOW!

All I knew was that she ran her ass off, her form was great and I was going to keep up with her! Congratulations Andy for placing in your age group - I am so sorry I screwed up the ipad Interview :,(

After screaming to Andy how great she looked, I focussed on cutting more time off my race. I really pushed.

Wing-Man was screaming, "Your close, you can do this!"

I was close to breaking that 1 hour and 40 minute goal! 

I sprinted so hard during that last 1/10th of a mile that I was foaming at the mouth when I crossed the finish line. And what did I see: 1:40:XX.

I kept jogging for another 50 yard and then I lost it. I broke down and cried. I was sobbing like a little baby! I gave it my all...and I couldn't break 1hour and 40minutes! Aaaagh! How utterly humbling!

Aaah. Sixth in my age group with all I had! Wing-man and I decided to walk around while I drank my EnduroxR4 recovery drink. I am sure glad I brought the powder in the mixer because my hamstring and my calves started to cramp up on me. I just added some water and I was good to go exploring more of the park.

Rocky Neck State Park Picnic Area

Since my bib time got messed up, my time couldn't be recorded accurately - but The Granite State Race Services employees wrote down the top 20 females - and, I was one of them, so at least my finish was recorded - It wasn't the time I saw crossing the finish, but at least I got credit for the race!

Thanks Guys!

Train Smart Today!

World Trade Center Run to Remember Recap

Yesterday was great. Of course, it started out with me oversleeping and waking up in a panic. The alarm was set for 5:59, but it never went off. I can't believe I forgot to switch the alarm to "ON".

Add caption

My hands were shaking. As I rushed to get dressed - I thought, 'What was all that stuff I blogged about this week - something about planning?' Hah! God always has a great way of having the last laugh!

Well...at least I had my clothes set out, packed my Side-Kick's bag the night before - and bought my fresh Panella the day before for my "Runner's Toast".

"Runner's Toast" is whole wheat Panella, sliced, toasted and topped with about a 1/2tblsp. peanut butter. For those who do not know what Panella is ... I am sorry. No, really, I feel really sorry for you - you are missing out on some great Italian bread.

I am serious about my Panella!

Panella

Panella is a round Italian loaf bread which, if you bought it fresh from an Italian bakery and planned to use it for toast or for sandwiches, you would need to ask them to slice the loaf before you purchased it. It is excellent toasted with some jam and a cup of coffee. But, when I have a track work out or a race, I eat it with a spread of peanut butter - so now, my Side-Kick calls it, "Runner's Toast".

Anyway, since we were all either running or walking in the WTC Run to Remember, my Side-Kick made "Runner's Toast" for everyone. I packed our extra clothes, water bottles, my caffeinated Clif Shot Bloks, Wet One's for the Port-O-John experience (yeay) and ran out the door. 

We had to drive down town, park on Water Street and catch a ferry to Governor's Island. It was 7:15 - the 7:30 Ferry was out! I thought, "Okay, calm down, we will go for the 8:15 ferry."

We got to Water street by 8:00AM - but there was no way were we going to make the 8:15 ferry. We ran to get on this very long, Magic Kingdom, Disney-like line. Then, I heard it, it was angelic, a voice, it was calling me, from far away - from somewhere towards the front of the line - could it be - yes, it was my sister-in-law - she was up further on the line - so, without any remorse or conscience - and no looking back - we cut the line! Damn it, I was going to make that 8:15 ferry and run in that race!

Top Level of the Ferry

Even though the ferry was very full, I was surprised at how many more people the ferry could fit. I started to not feel so bad for cutting the line!

Over the past three years, this race has grown. There were so many people on the ferry - both levels were very full.

Bottom Level of Ferry

We settled in:

The Girls!

Mini-man and My Side-Kick

 and took in the beauty around the NY Harbor:

Lower Manhattan

Governors Island is a 172 acre island, about 800 yards from lower Manhattan in the NY Harbor. It was used for about 200 years as a military base. In 2003, the federal government sold most of the island to the people of New York. About 22 acres was declared Governors Island National Monument. The northern 92 acres of the Island are open to the public for picnics, tours, concerts and biking. About 80-acres in the southern part of the Island is undergoing demolition and is currently closed for redevelopment.

The views from the island are spectacular. You can see lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and three bridges: The Manhattan, Brooklyn and Williamsport Bridge. Oh, and you can see Jersey City and Staten Island, too.

Once we got off the ferry, we all had to walk to the starting area.

So we walked . . .

...and walked.

My daughter decided that she wanted to walk with the rest of our family - so my son took her place and ran the 5K with me.

Mini-Man and His Mom

Mini-man and I warmed up - I ran about 1 mile and then together, we did 4 ten second sprints with 20 second rests. Then, we jogged over to the start. 

I took one look back at our forever changed skyline and the new Freedom Tower currently under construction and thought of my husband John - 'like everything I do, John - I will try my best in this 5K, so I can make you proud'... It was an a honor to be with my family - we were all wearing his name on our race bibs - it was a very emotional day, but I felt very blessed to have my family want to participate in this event with me.

Once at the start, a beautiful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner was sung - and, as always, we were off.

Coach wanted me to run a 6:40/mile pace. Even if the weather cooperated, I don't know if I could have pulled that off - it was 85*F and very humid. Although I didn't set a new PR for my 5K at 22:25 - I know one day I will reach my goal time of 21' ... One day, one day.

I was so excited when I saw that I came in 1st in my age group, and took 3rd Overall Masters:

Woo-Hoo!!!

Third Place Overall Masters Female

Although not everyone could join us after the awards, a few of us headed back down town for the Third Annual WTC Run to Remember After Party at Mudville 9.

The Gang at Mudville 9 post WTC Run to Remember

It was a great day, overall! I even got a sort of commitment to run from my nephew - he told me that he was going try to run with me next year! Yeay! I hope so! I told them all, they gotta follow my blog - then they can learn how to ...

Train Smart Today!

... and keep up with their old Aunt!