TCS Annapolis Half Marathon: State#13!

Maryland, my 13th state!

Running in Annapolis was great!

And I'm proud to say, a new PR has been reached:

1:36:09

Not bad for a middle-aged chick, huh?

I wish I could say getting to Annapolis was just as easy. Sidekick was trying to talk me out of going. Girlfriend had a performance Friday night and had a whole bunch of college application stuff to hand in  for Saturday.

Girlfriend's in the middle!
You go girl!

Staying to watch Girlfriend perform would mean we wouldn't get down to Annapolis until 2AM. I said that I'd go by myself - no one else had to come. Being Half-Crazed doesn't mean I hafta make everyone  around me crazy, too. Still, I was really determined to get in one more half, this year, and that was driving everyone around me crazy! My goal is to do at least five per year. With my knee injury in May, I already cancelled two halves. I didn't want to have to cancel another. Besides, I'm was still on a HIGH from doing better than planned in the local Thanksgiving Day race, The Ashenfelter Classic, where I ran 7seconds faster/mile than I planned!

Even so, I understood where Sidekick was coming from: My Mother-in-law's health has been quickly deteriorating, I have had four hours of sleep every night this week because I have had tests, papers and presentations due - another night of no sleep, and a long drive,  does not make for a good pre-race situation. On top of that, Saturday night, my son would be going to his very first formal dance, "The Candy Cane".

Mini-man went red tie and vest!

Add to that, the young lady's corsage had to be picked up somewhere between 2-3PM.

Reasoning in my Half-Crazed Mind: 

We leave after the performance @10PM. Get down to Annapolis at 2AM. Wake at 6AM. Eat a bagel and drink some coffee, on the way to the race. Get to race by 6:30AM. Warm-up, do four strides. Race at 7AM. Hang out at race until 10AM. Shower at hotel and get on the road by 11:30AM. Home by 2:30PM, just in time to pick-up the corsage!

It's great when a plan comes together!

"Please be supportive of my goals, everyone. I can do this!"

I am blessed. My family saw how much this goal means to me, and they all pitched in. Girlfriend took care of her college applications stuff Saturday morning, and Mini-man arranged a ride for early Saturday morning wrestling practice. Side-kick, went over and above - he drove down to Annapolis and back, shaking his head, and telling me the whole way that he loves me, and that I am not Half-Crazed, but absolutely CRAZY!

There I was, 6:59AM, December 1:

Following a very aggressive, super A-type male runner while he frantically pushed his way through hundreds of people to get to the 7:30min/mi pace section of the start. It's good to be small and tag onto this kinda person - people think you're couple, they smile at you, kinda' like, "Aww, they're running together."And as a female, you don't seem obnoxious, or have other females looking at you with that look that says,

"B*TCH.

Just who do you think you are?"

Star Spangled Banner was sung. GO NAVY written on the Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to the right side of me, and then, some guy (most likely from Army) yelled out, "Sink Navy".

"POW" 

We were off!

Race Elevation

This race was challenging. Lots of hills. So many ups and downs. I knew there was a bridge (the Naval Academy Bridge) spanning the Severn River at the mouth of the Chesapeake River, and I planned for this challenge at mile 6, but I didn't plan for the slow and torturous hill spanning the 7-7.5mile point. And then there was the turn around, so we could repeated it all again!

I had to stop at the top of the hill, at that 7.5mile point.

I was gasping for air!

There was a water/Gatorade station. When I stopped, I noted a women in a fuchsia top, grabbed the Gatorade, sucked 1/2 of it down between gasps of air, heard someone yell,

"Quick, toss your cup this way. 

NOW!" 

She must have seen my confusion - there were runners on my right, making it up that horrible hill, and runners passing me, on my left. It was pretty cold, so I didn't want to soak anyone with sticky Gatorade. Her strong, "NOW," snapped me back into focus. I tossed the cup and sprinted down the hill, after the woman in fuchsia, hearing my friends voice in my head:

"The easiest thing in the world you can do is give up!"

I caught up to the woman in fuchsia, doing sub 6:50min/mile pace, only to face a few more hills and the Naval Academy Bridge, again. Luckily, I counted to 10 and repeated some ABC's going up the bridge the 1st time, so I knew how long it would take me to conquer the bridge on my return trip. I paced it pretty good, and when I got to the top, I screamed:

"Done. 

I'm done with that bridge!"

Some guys started laughing and we got to talking. I was delirious, at that point, telling them about my four hours of sleep and my goal to complete a half in every state. They wanted to know which state would be my last. I told them, "Nevada" and explained that my son will be 21, and he wants to go to Vegas, run the half with me, have a drink with me and play some Craps! God-willing, one day, I will be able to say, again:

"It's great when a plan comes together!"

The race went back through the downtown area of Annapolis, which looked super quaint. I have to admit, with all the turns, ups and downs, I really didn't focus on the scenery. I really concentrated on keeping pace uphill, and stabilizing my core on the down hill. At one point, some guy next to me just lost it and yelled out, "I can't take going downhill anymore! Where are the straightaways?"

Then, about mile 11, I thought, "God no, I'm becoming my own statistic."

I always say, about mile 10 or so, people just fall off the chart. I'm guessing they just don't train passed 10miles. Usually, about mile 10/11, I pass a good amount of people. Yesterday, though, after those hills, my legs were heavy. I was tired. The thought of how little sleep I had was playing on my head. I did that whole Colonel self-screaming thing (my kids calls me the colonel when I yell, I don a military accent - I can thank my Dad for that trait). So you can imagine what I sounded like in my head as I repeated:

This is what you train for.

This is why your out on the track every week.

This is why you do monster walks in the gym, until your legs burn!

You are strong.

Let's go.

Don't become your own statistic.

Fire in the belly.

Finish strong.

Self-talking is a powerful tool. I'd like to know what other people do to fight those negative thoughts that wreak havoc on your psyche during a race, or even during training.

I usually wind up praying for strength and oxygen ...yes, I pray for oxygen!

The race ended with runners running about a half mile through the Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium parking lot - which was how it started and which everyone thought was a little odd. There were volunteers handing out medals and foil blankets. After about 2minutes, I was very grateful for that foil blanket because it was about 42*F, foggy and damp.
Side-kick and I headed over to the tent, where we heard the most amazing band play! They were great!

First time I ever saw a bag-pipe hooked up to an AMP!
The Rovers

I had some veggie soup, with crab, of course, after all, we were in Maryland! Side-kick had some cream of crab soup with a little shake of Old Bay. Mmm, mmm, good! I love soup, after a chilly run!

Side-kick also went for the free beer they were giving out!

Celebrating my 1st place in age group
....at 9AM!

I was a little disappointed there were no metals for age groups - I would have liked to have walked away with an award. But the after party was so happening, and everyone was in such a great mood, the experience was worth the trip.

Above all, I am so grateful to have my family's support and to be able to say, 

I finished my 13th state!

Go Blue Angels!

Train Smart Today!

A New PR: Nashville Lady Speedstick Women's Half Marathon Recap

This past Friday, I flew down to Nashville, Tennessee, the place where music calls home, to run in the Nashville Lady Speedstick Women's Half Marathon.

Hard Rock Cafe
Nashville, Tennessee

Sidekick and I almost missed our flight because there was so much traffic on every highway we tried (and we tried three!) driving to the airport. There is nothing worse than running through an airport, trying to get to a gate before they close the doors! Anyway, we made it and I was so relieved. I have had to cancel two runs this year because of knee problems, so thinking I missed the flight, made me want to cry. The problem: I was trying to be "Super Mom". This was the second time I ever took a trip without my kids - they were too busy to come (do you believe it?) - so before I left, I made dinner and wanted to have a "Family" meal. It was so rushed, every one got upset with one another - it was awful - not quite the "quality" family time I hoped for.

We got to our hotel in Nashville about 11PM. I set everything up for the next day's early morning 7AM start: Garmin, Road ID, Running shirt, shorts, Bra, Hair clip, one Clif Shot gel with safety pin to attach to my shorts, socks, sunglasses, Rock tape for knee and racing sneaks with obnoxious laces! I was all set, very excited, and hoped I would be able to sleep.

Even though the Lady Speedstick Half does not advertise packet pick-up in the AM, I called the race coordinators to see if they make any exceptions for people coming in from out of state. I work on Friday, and Girlfriend has been sick, so I had to take her to the doctors that day at 12noon. You can imagine how relieved I was when the race coordinators told me that I could pick up my packet early Saturday morning. So, there I was, 5:45AM, Saturday morning (after a good night's rest!) off with my Side-kick, only to make one stop for coffee, a water bottle and a Clif Bar. Do you believe the little coffee shop had no bagels? 

Poor side-kick, I was a nervous wreck. 

If I don't eat 1hour before the race, 

I could run into huge potty problems - like in Virginia - and that is absolutely No Fun! 

We were off to the race, and I shoved that Clif bar in my face and sipped back that coffee like I had been starved for a month! All was good, I made it to the packet pick-up area, got my number, looked at my watch and saw it was time for my warm-up. Coach gives me a pre-race warm-up, jog about 1/2 mile and do about 4-6 thirty second strides to wake-up my legs and get them to turn over quickly.

The race started in front of the Country Music Hall of Fame. After my warm-up, we were walking around. Do you believe there is no star for Stevie Ray Vaughn?

Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
hey, that's me, and I want you only!

 I am late for everything (Re: my Dolly Parton goal), but never, ever the start of a race. So, it was line-up time, and I met a great person, who after we got to talking, I found out that her niece suffers from Crohn's disease, like me. The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation was the major recipient of proceeds from this race.

This young lady, on my right,  ran to raise money and awareness
for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

I am embarrassed to say that I have never run to raise money for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America - instead, every time I run a race, I donate to Tuesday's Children. I need to reach out to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America - maybe they want to sponsor me? I did notice lots and lots of port-o-johns, LOL! And, I was tempted to use one around mile 8, but (no pun intended) I managed to deal with the pain, discomfort and nausea, until I passed the finish line! Then, I was so happy to see all those port-o-johns lined up, welcoming tired old Crohnnies runners, quite like myself!

Before the race, they had the singing of our National Anthem. After 9/11, I can't help, but cry at the singing or playing of our National Anthem. This past 9/11, my daughter sang our National Anthem at the Mets Baseball game. I was really proud of her. I think she sounded beautiful. Check out Girlfriend, singing the US National Anthem - tell me what you think.

After the anthem, I was psyched to start!

Thumbs up!

The race was challenging. In the first mile or so, I met a gentleman carrying a sign: 1:35. I told him that's my ultimate goal, 1:35, but after another mile, he politely said, "I'm sorry, but I have to run a little ahead!" Oh noooo, my illusive 1:35 getting away, again. How  can he run faster than me carrying that sign, in the wind? Ugh!

Just run, girl, just keep running!

I was doing pretty good. I felt strong - even up and sown the hills, twists and turns - it was a very hilly and twisty race - I think that's what made it so challenging! And all the women in the race were so nice. If I passed someone, I would hear: 'keep it up", or "you look great", or "you go, girl'!

Love running in the "All Woman" races!

I kept telling everyone, "Thanks, and I have Crohn's." I know it's stupid, but it means something to me, to be able to run with a chronic illness because I manage it with food and medicine (I take 6 Pentasa per day!).
The crowd was great, too. One person even yelled out, "You go person with the tape around her knee. You just keep going!" Thank you, whoever that was, you really made my day!

Thumbs are still up!

There was only one person, a by-stander, who "lied" - he yelled out, "C'mon, last mile, it's all downhill from here." I yelled back, "Really? You better not be lying to me."

He was! 

I say we had to climb about three more hills before the finish. I was tired. All I could think was, "Just hurry up and finish. Then, you will be done and you can STOP!" You know that feeling, in a race, when all you want to do is stop running? Well, I was there, about mile 11/12. I pushed to the end, though. I wanted to reach at least 1:38.

Last couple hundred feet to go!

Pump those arms!

I did it! So many nice volunteers!

I did it! 

And I set a new PR by seconds: 

1:38:34

Just look at this medal!

Yes! I think I was 16th, overall - they don't have all the results in just yet. What a fun race! So many nice goodies in the race bag, too, including great sweat-wicking t-shirt, which, this time, I kept instead of giving it to my Side-kick. After the race, there was a great band playing some Country Rock. 

Rock on!

Overall, it was the start of a beautiful day in sunny, downtown Nashville, Tennessee, with my Side-kick.

Lotsa boot stores in downtown Nashville!

And live music, everywhere you go!

Hey, Side-kick, thank you for supporting my running efforts <3!

TRAIN SMART TODAY!

Patrick Henry Half Marathon

I was in Big Bass Country: Ashland, Virginia to run my 11th state half marathon:

The Patrick Henry Half Marathon

Big Bass Country!

We drove down late, Friday night. I had about 3hours of sleep. Woke up at 5:42AM, made myself the hotel room coffee ... YUK! I hate, hate hate powdered milk!

This is as close to camping as it gets for me!

I got dressed, grabbed the raisin bagel and Kleen Kanteen full of 1/2 Gatorade - 1/2water, I brought from home and was off with my Side Kick! We left Mini-man sleeping in the hotel room. I have to admit, I was envious of the great snore he had going on! But the race started at 7AM, and there was no time to waste. In fact, it was still dark when we got to the race tents to pick-up my bib.

Race Started in front of entrance to Randolph Macon College

The race meandered through the pretty downtown streets of Ashland, Virginia. it was rainy and a bit windy, but I'd take that over a hazy, hot and humid, any day. The race took us west of town and on country roads, lined with corn stalks. I kept praying all the beautiful fields of corn were not Monsanto Genetically Modified Corn stalks. As the runners pushed on, we ran through lazy cows grazing on beautiful farmland. For me, this is a treat 'cause, by me, streets look more like this, by me:

Dinner in Hoboken, NJ Friday night

Yeah, the only cow, okay beef, I mean - you know what I mean - is seen here is in the kitchen, restaurant or local grocer's ...

The biggest challenge in the race was at the end of mile 11. The elevation rose about 120feet. I felt pretty strong, but my tummy did not. It brought my running to a halt. I got a little sick, had a moment, took a deep breath and pushed on. If I didn't meet up with my Crohn's  issues, I bet I could have broken 1:40! Instead, I finished 1:40:59 and took 2nd in my age group, missing out on 1st by seconds!

Overall, I'm very proud of this Patrick Henry half marathon results. I ran a pretty steady pace. I held back a little in the beginning - I was definitely afraid to re-injure my perpetually recovering hammy and piriformis muscles. Also, my tummy was a tad off at the start of the race, and I didn't want it to totally turn on me - as it did in the end ...no pun intended!

Virginia = State #11!

Looking to running another at the end of September around my Medical Nutrition quizzes and exams!

TRAIN SMART TODAY!

My Coach is a Grandpa!

If you follow this blog, you know I think the world of my coach. 

Well, for the last 9months, he has been expecting. Ehem ...correction, his daughter has been expecting. Coach has been so excited and it's been rather enjoyable getting to know this side of him.

See, training sessions usually go like this:

Coach: Nooo! (Scowl) I said two times around the track. 800meters. That's1:40 at 400meters and 3:20 at 800meters. C'mon Let's go. (Ugh. When will this girl process two times around the track = 800meters?)
Me (Totally brain glucose deficit): Duuuuh, what pace?

Coach scribbled these paces down for me, about 2years ago.
I'm still trying to learn them. 

Coach is straight forward when it comes to training. There's no room for any sissy-crap. It's a tough workout every Wednesday, at the track. I often feel like a race horse, with snot and spit hanging out of every facial orifice, huffing, puffing and staying focussed in Lane #1.

BUT...

When track work is done, there's time for small talk and we catch up on the week. During this time, I love to ask Coach about his daughter and how her pregnancy is going. The man's face totally lights up. He goes from 'Stern Track Coach' to a 'Softy' in seconds flat .... 'Oh, she's doing great. We heard the baby's heart beat. My daughter gained another pound' and my all-time favorite response of his 'You know I'm buying my Grandbaby her first Nike sneakers! Little pink Nike running sneakers!'

Well today, at 9:32AM, Ellie Grace was born!

Congratulations Coach!

All of God's blessings to Ellie Grace, you and your family!

I hope to get a picture soon, so I can share here on my blog!

Until then ...

TRAIN SMART TODAY!

Thursday at the track: 3mile test

I guess my last few runs prompted my Coach to see where I stood, so today, after a slow 2mile warm-up, and six 21second 100meter strides, I ran 3miles on the track.

My goal pace: 7:20.

Talk about self-talking: 

Yes, I can!

Yes, I will!

I am doing this!

I repeated the first two "Yes, I can and Yes, I will" about a gazillion times, after the first mile. Then, about 2.75mile mark, I added the "I am doing this." 

I had to force myself to repeat, "I am doing this". Like when you have a cavity or need a tooth pulled and have to make a dental appointment. You really don't want to go, but somehow you convince yourself that everything will be fine and it will all work out. You may even envision yourself going through some pain, but then the moments afterward are all types of sugar and bliss and you say to yourself: "I am doing this!" Next thing you know, you're making the dental appointment ...in total denial of what what is really going to go down!

That's pretty much how it was when I was looking down at my beloved Garmin, seeing the 7:30minute pace, but saying, "I am doing this" - ignoring the aching hamstring, gluteus, IT band and heel pain, but hey, on a scale of 1-5, it was only a 2.5, which had no time to register because I was already thinking:

Yes, I can!

and

Yes, I will!

Then, only 800 meters left and "I am doing this" was the only thing my feeble brain could focus on!

Overall, my 3mile test resulted in a 7:22pace.

Not bad. 

Still room for improvement! 

My cool down was 2more slow miles (~8:50pace), which was really enjoyable after all that pushing!

Love the positive self-talking. It's a great way to 

Train Smart Today!

Boston's Run To Remember Half Marathon

Boston's 6th Annual Run to Remember is a tribute run to honor Massachusetts Law  Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty by celebrating their lives and giving back to the community. One way this race gave back to the community is by supporting the Boston Police Kids At Risk Program, which provides a safe encouraging environment to inner city kids to help them make better life choices, in hopes they will avoid joining a gang or get involved in acts that will lead to incarceration. I was proud to run in this race - it's great to know that by competing in these 1/2 marathons, I can honor and help (even if it's just a wee bit) others - and this year were 5,407 runners strong!

There we stood, all of us anticipating the start of the race, listening to the Star Spangled Banner. It gave me chills listening, being that it was Memorial Day weekend. I stood there, praying for all those killed in the armed forces and for all the families who lost a family member - a brother, sister, mom, dad, grandparent, aunt, uncle or cousin.

On my way to Boston's Run to Remember,
Memorial Day Weekend 2012

There was a brief pause for a PhotoOp, which was like this photo from 2011, but everyone was instructed to face the man with the camera, who was standing on the bridge behind us. This year, they didn't want a picture of the runners' backs or butts.

Speaking of butts, the laser treatments have been really effective. I had very little piriformis or semitendinosis pain, but I did have pain. Last Thursday, Coach had me scheduled for 4miles. My knee was giving out during that little 4mile run. It felt week and sore. This is the first time I have ever had knee pain, like this.

During my pre-race warm-up strides, my knee felt sore. I was soooo nervous. I didn't want my knee to give out and fall during the race. Ugh! I was shooting to finish in 1hour and 40minutes, no PR, just to get through. I was hoping to make the top 10 in the 40-49 age bracket.

The race course was very pretty, but of course, I am bias 'cause I LOVE Boston! It's such a great little city and I love all of its history - okay, yes, I'll admit, I love shopping on Newbury Street, too! Who doesn't? This race didn't go in that direction, though.

The race started at Boston's World Financial Center, went out toward Boston Harbor and the seaport area, and then continued out toward Cambridge and Harvard University. This was my only half where I actually eavesdropped on two men having a conversation about research on aging endurance runners. There I was, right by Harvard, when these two men passed me, and on the back of their shirts: HARVARD. Where else would you hear people talking about research while running in a half marathon, than Boston's Half through Cambridge, by Harvard University ...and it was research on endurance runners, apparently, "the only one of its kind". It was classic. Even suffering from the progressively worsening knee pain, I started to crack up!

A lot of the race was on Memorial Drive, which follows along the Charles River. It was very pretty. Coming back, the race took you passed the public gardens. By that time, it was pretty hot and humid. There was a little shade by the gardens, which offered a nice little reprieve.

Along the way, I think we crossed about three bridges. These were really the only hills - otherwise, the course was pretty flat. Still, with a bum knee, out and back over the bridges added up and by the last bridge, Seaport Blvd Bridge, I was in lots of pain. The last mile would not have been manageable had it not been for Side-kick and my two kids cheering me on. With the beautiful skyline ahead of me and a terrific crowd with lots of people screaming and cheering, I pushed forward. I really just wanted to give in to my knee pain, and walk, but I heard someone yell, "Finish Strong!" I held on to that and kept repeating it, until I crossed the finish.

I finished in 1:42.

Not my best race. 

No PR.

Somehow I managed to be in the top 10%! 

Not bad for having a bum knee. 

There were lots of goodies at the end to celebrate each runner's ability to finish Boston's 1/2marathon. I grabbed my medal ...

Massachusetts, State #10!

...hobbled over to the food line and grabbed a raisin bagel, a packet of peanut butter and a coconut water. Then, I hobbled over to the Red Cross Station. They were really busy! Lots of dehydrated runners and people with heat exhaustion. I felt guilty being there - I just wanted some ice for my knee. It was hard making my way through the crowd to the Red Cross station - it felt (and still feels) like the nerves on the inside of my knee are rubbing against each other and it's really painful to walk. Thank you to the nurses at the Red Cross station - you were all so kind and helpful and wow, did you ever have your hands full!

I don't know how I ran that half. Side-kick told me that when he saw me, I looked as if I were in pain - I was doing some sort of hobble/run move. Our bodies are just so amazing - they try so hard to keep going, even when rest is needed.

Well, it is time to take some time off from running. I have another 1/2 in June, in Vermont, and I am really hopeful I can run, but we will see. For now, I have a doctor's appointment, on Friday, which was the earliest one I could get! Until then, I'm icing my knee - 3minutes on, 3 minutes off - to get the blood to circulate for healing and a quick recovery, but more importantly, I am reflecting on another great half and time spent with my family!

Mini-man, Girlfriend and Side-Kick:
People watching on Boylston St!

Above all, I'm staying optimistic!

TRAIN SMART TODAY!

2012 Cherry Blossom Run

Today's Essex County Cherry Blossom 10k was tough! I think maybe it was the sudden rise in temperature. This week was weird, too. My Crohn's was active and it just kicked the crap out of me ...literally!

Oh well, sh@t happens!

All in all, though, I recovered pretty good. I beat last year's time by 11seconds per mile. And I only fell short of my PR by 1second per mile. The disappointment fell in the trying. I really did try to beat my PR. I pushed. The course was hilly. Nothing major, but enough to make you envy the people who decided to cave in and walk.

The course is very pretty and it meanders through cherry tree groves. The park is pristinely maintained - it's a little gem in the very urban city of Newark, NJ.

Branch Brook Park, Newark, NJ

During the race, I saw Ms Fast-ee Pants. She was all smiles and waving, bright and chipper as ever. I was ...dying, and curious as to why she was on the course - I thought she was racing in Marathon Monday, up in Boston.

"Wow," I thought, 

"I can't believe she is running in this 10K. 

Shouldn't she be home doing gluconeogenesis or something?"

Well, if anyone could run in this 10K, and then do a marathon the next day, it would be Ms Fast-ee Pants ...she is amazing!

The absolute best part of the race was the end. Not because I was gasping for air and wanted the pain and discomfort to end, but because I met up with Ms Fast-ee Pants. I also met another female runner, who apparently is Ms Fast-ee Pants, The First. I don't even want to go there! Anyway, they were both so kind, they didn't laugh when I told them my time, but instead commiserated on how hot it was. That's when Ms Fast-ee Pants told me how the organizers of the Boston Marathon sent out an e-mail warning people of tomorrow's predicted race temperature. It's supposed to hit 85-90*F (29-32*C) up there, tomorrow! They told people they could defer, until 2013, because of the high temperatures. They are trying to avoid people getting hurt - it's serious. I heard people have died running the Boston Marathon - even with normal temps!

That's crazy, right?

Okay, so that's why Ms Fast-ee Pants was schooling everyone in this 10K - she came in first in her age group!

Congratulations, girl!

I, on the other hand, finished 6th in my age group ... these New Jersey ladies can move! Aaaagh ...one day ....

Until then ....

TRAIN SMART TODAY!

Hilton Head Half Marathon Recap

The accommodations at The Westin were wonderful. I was really glad this hotel hooked up with Bear Foot Sports and offered a discounted rate. The morning of the race I felt very well rested. I think this was the first time I slept through the night on the evening before a half marathon race!

The Westin Hotel at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Girlfriend and I got up at 6:30 and grabbed a bite to eat at the hotel. We both had some yogurt, half a bagel, coffee and water. I admit, I was a little nervous. Coach wanted me to run between a 7min37sec - 7min35sec pace. My goal was to break 1hour and 40minutes - that has been my PR for some time now. I wasn't sure if I could do it, but my coach was ....

About 7:15AM, we packed up and headed over to the race. The race started in Jarvis Creek Park, but we had to park about a half mile away at the Hilton Head Island High School. I can't ever get over how much land these high school's have. Once you get away from the NY Metropolitan area, they are like campuses and Hilton Head High School Campus is sprawling! My kid's high school is directly off of a main avenue, next to a very busy, but quaint, train station. There are hundreds of people trying to catch their train into NYC at the same time school starts! It's insane!

Before the race, I warmed up with about four 100meter sprints and then jogged over to the start. It was a little cool, but comfortable - about 50*F (10*C). There was a little wind. I just wanted to break 1hour and 40 minutes!

No National Anthem, but someone announced something and we were off.

The race was relatively flat. Each mile was marked and at each mile a person called out the time. I felt really good, and just kept repeating, "Coach thinks I can do it. I can do it!"

The week before the race, I specifically slept in (until 6AM) a couple of times. The extra sleep paid off. I felt a little tired about mile 7, right before I got to the bridge. That's when I sucked down a Gu. I did not know the bridge was around the corner. It was challenging, but fun.

Pushing it up the bridge!
Push now, Rest later!

I think the bridge was about 1mile in length. It went straight up. I kept telling myself, "Don't give back any time. You can rest going down the other side!" It got a little windy on the bridge, and I thought of  Sherry Arnold. I prayed, "C'mon Sherry - be the wind beneath my wings - I want to honor you with this race!"

At the top of the bridge!
I was pointing to Sherry's name on my bib!

I think the Gu (and Sherry) helped! I made it over the bridge. I knew I would have to face the bridge again, on the way back.

Broad Creek Bridge
Ech!

Everyone along the course was so nice. Lots of fan support for the locals. It was a really pretty race, too. It meandered through Jarvis Creek Park and local streets. There were beautiful views of the water and the race meandered in and out of bike trails and quaint local streets, lined with beautiful pine trees.

The last two miles, I pushed it hard. I knew I gave back some time at mile 7, when I felt tired and I needed to make it up. So, the last two miles I really pushed. Mile 12, I ran a 7min25sec pace and mile 13, I ran a 7min33sec pace.
And...

YES, I broke my 1hour and 40min ceiling!!!
My new PR: 1:38:46!

And, I placed 3rd overall in the Masters Female Division!

I so wanted to honor Sherry Arnold!

TRAIN SMART TODAY!

48th Annual Asbury Park Polar Bear Run

The 48th Annual Asbury Park Polar Bear Run was lots of fun!

But the last day in 2011, did not start out that way!

I was in a panic at 11:20, knowing I had to be at Jersey Shore's Asbury Park by 12:30 to pick up my packet, warm-up 1 mile and do four 100meter stride warm-ups before the race started at 1PM. But, there we were, trying to figure out how to get the watchband back on my Garmin 405CX.

For the last few weeks, I was having trouble with my Garmin watch, so I called Garmin and they sent me a refurbished replacement. They even fixed the problem I was having on my "Activities" report - the report wasn't showing my heart rate or average heart rate for my runs. I use my heart rate and pace to see if I am getting stronger, faster or falling into "overtraining" mode. I admit, I am a little obsessed with my heart rate - but, hey, your heart rate is a great way to see if you are over training or under training (like that would ever happen with a type A personality). Anyway, I had to leave without putting the other half of the band back on - I would just have to hold my watch throughout the race.

So, girlfriend and I were off in her Jeep
on our New Year's Eve Race Day Road Trip!

Southbound on the GSP!

 I can't believe my baby was driving me to a race!

Girlfriend's Grandma Smile!

 Such a pretty sky!

Check-in was at the Asbury Park Convention Center. This building is so pretty. This was thee Jersey Shore Family resort area in the fifties!

Asbury Park Convention Hall

This convention center is a little gem!
Look at those beautiful windows!

Outside view of the Asbury Park Convention Hall.
Circa 1928! There is so much history here!

Right on schedule, we lined up for the race, right on the boardwalk. We listened to our National Anthem with Santa and an Elf playing drums in the background! It was great! And we were off....

I didn't realize, but all 5miles were run on the Asbury Park Boardwalk. At about 1/2 mile in some guy in front of me started yelling, "Keep right, Keep right!" He sounded so authoritative that I listened. It was a good thing I did, because coming right back at us were the pack leaders, running full sprint! That's right, we ran up the boardwalk for 0.5miles and back down to the start for another 0.5miles! The whole 5mile race was a loop, on the boardwalk! I've never run a race like that before!

I was so confused at the end, I didn't know where to end, then, I noticed, I had to run straight, to stop going around in circles! Because I couldn't tell where the race ended, I couldn't tell when to start my final sprint. When I realized the finish was straight ahead, I broke into my sprint. It was sort of drizzling during the last 1.5 miles, so when I finally crossed the finish line and tried to stop, I slid on the wet boardwalk, right into the person in front of me! Good thing 'cause she stopped me from falling!

As soon as I finished, I realized how very damp and cold it was. Girlfriend was loving the Wonder Warmers my Side-kick got me for Christmas.

Brrr! We hung out in the Convention Center to keep warm!

After the race, we had some options:

Take a Polar Bear Plunge

OR

Enjoy some Chicken Barley Soup

And my Momma ain't raised no fool.....

Thank you McLoon's for the Hot Soup!

While I was on line for my soup, I got the best pics of SANTA! I promised him that he wouldn't show up as "Stripping Santa" on U-tube, but I didn't tell him that he wouldn't show up on my blog......

Santa just lost about 80 pounds! I'm impressed,
he planned ahead & brought a plastic bag for his "belly"

There goes one sock!

Santa lost his pants! Look: this guy is so organized,
he had his swim trunks on all along!

Right now, Girlfriend is getting pissed at me for taking pics of
the Asbury Park Stripping Santa

"Just stop, Mom. Your embarrassing!"  

But look at this picture - its hysterical!

Santa outfit in the foreground and
Santa running into the Atlantic for a Polar Bear Plunge!

Santa wasn't the only one brave enough to take the Polar Bear Plunge!

I can't believe how many people were taking the plunge!

Thanks Asbury Park Polar Bear Race, even though I took 4th in my age group, and didn't bring home any hardware - and believe me I tried really hard for that polar bear trophy - I had a lot of fun!

And yes, Coach, I surged  - about every half mile - just like a Kenyan!

I set a new 5mile PR at 7:24minute mile pace 

And finished in 36:57!

Happy New Year

And

TRAIN SMART TODAY!