I just realized that while I updated my Daily Mile site with a recap of the Cap City Half Marathon, I hadn’t gotten around to updating you all here. How silly of me! I had scheduled posts to go up for the end of last week and the weekend so that I didn’t have to worry about it while I was stressing out about my race.
Let me start by showing you a picture:
Yep, that is me at the finish with a glass of bubbly! What? You don’t drink champagne at 10:30 in the morning? Normally I don’t either, but I just finished my 3rd half marathon and I was trying to loosen up my leg muscles. It was gluten-free!
I had an amazing race! While I didn’t break 2 hours, my pipe dream, I followed my plan for the most part. I got started a little fast, as most people do. It is so hard to not get caught up in all of the excitement and run with the crowd. It is much like driving on the highway, you tend to want to go the pace of the others around you. Note to self: consider lining up a little further back next time. I have to hand it to the organizers of the race, the corral set-up worked very well. There was no congestion as the race started, something I have encountered in other races. I would much rather have to slow down and adjust my pace than trip over walkers or try to fight my way through a sea of runners. There were several gluten-free food choices at the finish line! While I would have loved a slice of Donato’s Pizza or bagel from Panera, I chose an apple, banana and could have had a Muscle Milk (gluten- and lactose-free).
I had a plan laid out and I executed it fairly well. By starting out slower, and keeping my heart rate in Zone 2 during the first half of the race, I was able to really pick it up towards the end of the race finish strong! Now that I see how it works, I hope to work on fine tuning in my next half marathon this fall.
I have learned so much over the past 5 months with MIT. I love running with a training group on the weekends. Not only have I met some amazing people & new friends, but the knowledge of the pace coaches & other runners is priceless. I have gotten over my sorrow of not being able to run The Flying Pig Marathon – it didn’t last long. I like the fact that I am able to walk without pain after Saturday’s race, something I couldn’t do after my marathon in Cleveland last year.
I am taking the next two weeks to give my body a much-needed break from being beat up. I won’t run at all until this weekend and then it will be a very, very easy few miles. I swam yesterday and did Pilates today. I am also continuing to stretch, foam roll & ice my knee twice a day. I am really surprised by how good I feel. The icing is pretty much preventative at this point.
Once I get back into training, I am working on adding more strength training and speed training for fall. I am setting my goal for my fall marathon – to break 2 hours. I finished Saturday’s race in 2:07:42, so I know if I focus & concentrate on the right things, I can do it.
I love this quote from Kara Goucher’s new book “I tell runners to divide the race into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality & the last part with your heart.” Mike Fanelli, club coach
My son and me, November 2000. This is before we were gluten-free/diagnosed Celiac.
Wow! I'm running my first half, hopefully in August, if injuries dont get me. My goal is to FINISH!!! Fantastic job!!! I wish I could break 10 min miles in a 5k!!!
Thanks Penelope! I have been down the injury road more than I care to talk about. It is hard to avoid sometimes. I am trying to learn to listen to my body more & more. I have been itching to run since the race, but dr told me to take at least a week off – I am being a good patient & listening! LOL!
I wish you the best of luck in August!
Kim
WOW! What an amazing job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so proud of you and I thoroughly enjoyed your recap!!!!! That is soooooo impressive! If only I could run that fast someday! I love the quote – I am remembering that for this Sunday!
I am glad I have you as an MIT running buddy!
Sara –
Thank you!! I want to get that quote tatooed on my forearm to always remember! LOL!
I am so excited for you this weekend!!! You will do great! Are you signing up for MIT again? I would love to meet you in person! I can't wait to it starts back up again!
((HUGS))
Kim
Congrats Kim~ I signed up for the LV Rock and Roll full marathon in December, but I'll probably end up running the half. I would like to be able to walk afterwards.
Anna,
Thanks! Good for you!!! I hear you on being able to walk afterwards. I have BTDT last year after my full and it was not fun. I like the sense of accomplishment that I get from completing a race and I figured out that it didn't have to be the full 26.2 to feel that way. I am actually looking at some 10K and 5K races this summer.
Keep me posted!
Kim
Will do Kim. Cheers!
Wow…so glad to hear your race went well! I ran the Ocean City, MD half-marathon about 2 weeks ago and finished in 1hr 37min…my best time yet! It was a perfect day and the course was beautiful. My only complaint about the whole thing was that after the race, the only thing available to me that was gluten free was a banana! Well, just wanted to say congrats on your race! Hope you aren't too sore
Congrats Sara!! That is a wonderful time! Hope you are feeling good!
Hey speedy! Good work!! I have Celiac disease and I run too …love reading your blog!!
Thanks Kris!!
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[...] run, but a few friends suggested it was a great course to try to run a PR (personal record) on. Cap City Half Marathon is a crowded race and I want to try focus more on fun and friends for that one in a couple [...]
[...] is my next half marathon – The Cap City Half Marathon. I ran this race last year and can’t wait to do it again! I will be pacing a [...]