Demar 1/2 Marathon Race Report

I figured I better get to writing my race report from our New Hampshire half since I'm sitting at the airport waiting for my flight to California.  We will be crossing California off our list of 50 states on Sunday morning.  Did I mention we completed New Hampshire back in September?  I'm clearly the queen of  procrastination these days!  Our friend, Marilyn, joined us for this half marathon.  We took advantage of the close proximity of New Hampshire to Massachusetts and flew into Boston.  Lucky for us, Marilyn lives in Massachusetts so we stayed with her the first two nights of our trip.  We went into Boston to sight see on Friday.  The weather wasn't the best but we still had a great time.

Saturday morning we did a little shopping and had lunch in Marblehead.  Once we were done in Marblehead we took to the car and made our way to New Hampshire.  We checked into our hotel, stopped by the expo to pick up our race packets, and had a lovely dinner and of course a few drinks.





Sunday morning we got ready and headed to the race start.

The weather forecast was HOT,HOT, HOT so we decided to walk the race for safety purposes.  Deb, Marilyn, Nikki and I stayed together until about the 12 mile mark at which point Deb and I went ahead a bit.  At the 12.5 mile mark, Deb asked me what my watch said.  I looked at my watch, and told her what it said.  She asked if I wanted to run the rest of the way and I said sure.  I can tell you we did not run the rest of the way however at the 13 mile mark Deb asked me what my watch said again and I told her.  She simply said "run" so I did.  We crossed the line and Deb asked me one last time what my watch said.  Our finish time was 3:49:50.  She said "oh good, I wanted to finish under 3:50".  Originally she was hoping for a 3:45 finish but with the heat and a longer than usual bathroom stop, it wasn't really in the cards. 

Marilyn and Nikki finished shortly after us and we all stopped for a picture and then headed back to the car.

We grabbed showers and a bite to eat and headed back to Massachusetts so Deb, Nikki, and I could catch our flights home.

Complete a half in all 50 states status: 19 states and D.C. completed

Completed states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.


Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!

February in Review

February turned out to be quite a bit more successful than January.  One of my neighbors went on a nice tropical vacation which left another neighbor in need of a 4:45 AM running buddy so I agreed to join her.  Thankfully it was just the push I needed as I have not been motivated with my running at all lately.

February 2017 Stats
48.38 running miles
2.28 walking miles
50.66 total miles




Current 2017 Stats
57.96 running miles
4.61 walking miles
62.57 total miles


February brought with it some very cold runs and some nice warm runs (for February).  Overall it was an okay month but I really need to work on increasing my mileage!

Up next is March in Review.  I've been majorly slacking in the blog department!!


Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!

January in Review

Well this is certainly not the January in Review I envisioned after my first run of 2017! 

First run of 2017

January 2017
9.58--running miles
2.33--walking miles
11.91--total miles


Current 2017 stats
9.58--running miles
2.33--walking miles
11.91--total miles


After my January 1st run I was lacking motivation and kept choosing sleep over getting out there and running.  With some convincing from my neighbors I managed to get out there again on January 11th.

Guilty!!!

Two days later our family headed to Seven Springs for a long weekend getaway.  I had packed my workout gear and had every intention of running until......

my ankle had a run in with the steps moments after we checked into our hotel.  And that is how my plan to workout was stopped dead in its tracks. 


Of course we had a bit of a heat wave the weekend after I took my tumble and I sat in my house feeling like this when I saw all the runners pass by my front window.

I feel your pain kid!

Tomorrow will be three weeks since my tumble.  I ran for the first time this morning and I felt okay so I will take it. 


As I said at the beginning of this post, this is not how I saw January going but it is what it is and there's always next month!!

Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!

November and December in Review

I figure since I am on a blogging roll today I will knock out my November and December in Review in one post!  It's not going to be very hard to accomplish this since I didn't run or walk a single step in the month of December. 


November 2016
**Very limited running this month as I was sidelined with a major chest cold.**
19.35 running miles
.06  walking miles
19.41 total miles

One of my three whole runs in November (13 of my 19 miles happened this day)

December 2016
**I really have no excuse for this mileage (or lack thereof).  I was plain lazy and then I ended up with yet another chest cold**
0 running miles
0 walking miles
0 total miles





Current 2016 Stats
 574.36 running miles
 34.84 walking miles
 609.2 total miles

Clearly I needed to put just a little more into it in 2016

In the end my running in 2016 was a far cry from what it has been in past years but sometimes you just need to give yourself (and your body for that matter) a break.  I have gotten in one run so far for 2017 so I am at least moving in the right direction.  I don't have any goals/mission for 2017 at the moment but I will be thinking about what I want to improve upon in regards to my mind, body, and soul.


Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me.

Marshall University Half Marathon Race Report

Yes this half marathon was the first weekend in November and I am just now getting around to blogging about it.  I really need to do better!!

Friday

Nikki and I took to the car to head to Columbus for the night as Deb was flying into the Columbus airport from Chicago and we were her ride to the Columbus hotel as we decided to stay near the airport Friday night and then head to West Virginia on Saturday morning.  As Deb's flight wasn't due in until after 10:00 PM Nikki and I met up with our friend, Dave, at California Pizza Kitchen for some dinner and ice cream.  We did a little "window" shopping at the mall that we ate at and then headed to our hotel to check in and wait for Deb's arrival.  After we grabbed Deb from the airport we spent some time catching up and then it was time to grab some shut eye.

Saturday

We grabbed a quick continental breakfast at our hotel in Columbus and then got everything packed up and got on the road to West Virginia.  The drive was very pleasant and quite uneventful.  We stopped for a late lunch and then went straight to the race expo to grab our things for race day.  It was a very small expo but we didn't mind as we weren't really looking for anything in particular for race day.  Nikki did buy a jacket as the weather forecast had changed.

Nikki, Deb and I at the expo

Once we had finished at the expo we headed to check into our hotel which was about 30 minutes away from the race start.  We were able to secure a late check out and just relax for awhile before we headed out for some dinner at The Wine Valley.  After finishing dinner, we headed back to the hotel and called it a night relatively early.

The Wine Valley

Our wine samplings

Sunday

We were up bright and early for our 30 minute drive to the race start.  It was quite chilly but we knew it was supposed to warm up relatively quickly so we were quite happy about that.  While waiting for the race to start we were very cold though so we were wishing the race would have started sooner rather than later.

Trying to stay warm at the start line

The course was very nice and relatively flat.  I especially enjoyed running past the water. It was a very nice view.  Considering I was coming off my slowest marathon ever, my only goal for this race was to try and run an even pace for all 13 miles.  I am happy to say that I came pretty close to achieving that goal.

Miles 1-6:  9:43, 9:33, 9:33, 9:28, 9:37, 9:23

Miles 7-13.24:  9:26, 9:23, 9:32, 9:32, 9:16, 9:44, 9:53 and 2:04(8:46 pace) for the final .24

The finish line

Nikki's finish

Nikki waiting for Deb to finish

Deb's finish

After all three of us crossed the finish line we headed back to our hotel to clean up and get ready to head back home.  We stopped and had lunch at Fat Patty's before getting back on the road to drop Deb off in Columbus for her return flight home.

Nothing like a burger and a beer after a half marathon

We returned Deb to the airport much earlier than her scheduled flight so she tried to get her flight changed to arrive home early but that didn't work out for her.  Instead, she ended up getting a nice chair massage while she waited for her flight.  Nikki and I headed back to Cleveland and declared it a successful weekend.

Complete a half in all 50 states status: 18 states and D.C. completed

Completed states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.


Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!



October in Review with a small Columbus Marathon Report

I am happy to say that I am actually getting to last month's review in a timely manner.  Maybe I can get myself back on track with my blogging however only time will tell.


October 2016
76.63 running miles
2.02 walking miles
78.65 total miles





Current 2016 Stats
 555.01 running miles
 34.78 walking miles
 589.79 total miles


October wasn't too bad overall.  I had some bad runs and some really good runs but in the end I am grateful to have my health that gives me the ability to run!


Let me start with my bad run.  I ran the Columbus Marathon on October 16 and it was my worst run in October.  Trisha and I planned to run together for the duration of the 26.2 miles but my body had other ideas.  I was able to run through mile 10 but then I had to ask Trisha if we could walk a little bit at the end of the next few miles and she kindly agreed.  I considered turning off at the 1/2 marathon split but realized I needed to finish what I started and set an example for my children.  By mile 14 I sent Trisha on her way.  It was hot and I was struggling.  Right around this point I saw Dave on the course and had a bit of an emotional breakdown on his shoulder.  He talked me through it and I continued on my way.  Fast forward to mile 16 and I had yet another breakdown on Dave's shoulder and then pressed on.  After mile 16 my body would not let me run.  I would try and I would almost immediately have to slow to a walk again.  I would end up walking the last 10 miles of the marathon and developing awful blisters at mile 23.  I did manage to wog (walk/jog) across the finish line but it HURT!!  I am happy to report that Trisha ran a PR race despite my need to stop and walk earlier in the race!  I vowed after the marathon that I was retiring from that distance!  I am going back to my first love, the 1/2 marathon!!

Expo!

Race Morning

Starting Line

Ran into Patty at the start

Fireworks

Now for the good run.  I had the chance to meet up with my friend Joanna for a nice 8 mile run the last weekend in October.  The scenery of the Metroparks and the wonderful conversation made it a great run!  Breakfast afterwards was a nice little bonus as well!!

Joanna and I at the Metroparks

Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!

May/June/July/August/September in Review

I can't believe how long it has been since I sat down and wrote a blog!  I have really been slacking with this.  It's pretty bad when you realize you have to do a post that reviews the past 5 months because you just couldn't pull yourself together to get it done before today!


May 2016
*Ran two 1/2 marathons this month leading to the increased mileage
87.08 running miles
2.03 walking miles
89.11 total miles

Cleveland 1/2 Marathon

Green Bay 1/2 Marathon

June 2016
*Lacked motivation this month leading to the decreased mileage
38.53 running miles
 2.25 walking miles
 40.78 total miles


July 2016
*Training for the Columbus Marathon this month leading to the increased mileage
 88.13 running miles
 5.10 walking miles
 93.23 total miles


August 2016
*Vacation and daughter's skating competition this month leading to the decreased mileage
 67.50 running miles
 1.83 walking miles
 69.33 total miles

September 2016
*Took a hard fall on the sidewalk this month leading to the lower than planned mileage
 74.69 running miles
 .76 walking miles
 75.45 total miles



Current 2016 Stats
 478.38 running miles
 32.76 walking miles
 511.14 total miles


Overall my training doesn't look too bad.  I ran the Columbus Marathon this past Sunday and it was by far my worst marathon finish to date.  More on that later....


Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!