Category: Races

Summer Racing

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With a number of fairly empty summer weekends ahead and plenty of miles to log, I’ve been looking around for summer races to mix into my training cycle. Most of them are longer races, but that’s because I have some major long runs that I need to accomplish. But with the recent track workouts I’ve been running, I’ve also been craving the perfect 5k to see if I can crush my post college PR.

Here’s a list of the summer races I’m most likely adding into my schedule. Some I’ve registered for, and some I haven’t yet, but all of them have been on my radar for some time now.

  • Park to Park Half Marathon (June 15th)
  • Flirt with Dirk 10k (June 21st)
  • Columbia Station Half Marathon (June 29th)
  • Twin Sizzler 5k/10k (July 4th)
  • Buehler’s Heart & Sole Half Marathon (August 16th)
  • Leave No Trace Half Marathon (August 30th)
  • Run for the Trails 5k (September 1st)
  • River Run Half Marathon (September 7th)

While I can’t run every race, here’s a list of some other great summer races in the area.

  • Towpath Ten-Ten
  • Jim Klett 10k
  • Bay Days 5 Miler
  • Smiles for Sophie 5k
  • Orrville Firecracker 5k
  • Winking Lizard, A Shot in the Dark 4 Miler/2 Mile Relay
  • Classic at Mastick 5k

So that’s how I plan on spending many of my summer weekends, lacing up my shoes and getting some more races under my belt while training for Wineglass. And now you know what races you should be adding to your schedule as well!

What are your favorite summer races?

 

Medina Half Marathon Recap

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I wasn’t sure how to begin this recap. I spent 16 weeks training for Saturday, and a whole year counting down for the day to arrive. But after just 6 miles, my whole race fell apart, and it was as though all of that training was for nothing.

The week leading up to Medina wasn’t a normal week for me. My legs were still tired from Cleveland, I had the brilliant idea of starting a run streak during taper, I experimented with morning runs, and I ran hard 400s the Tuesday before a Saturday race. That right there was enough to know I was in for a troublesome race.

Saturday morning I woke up at 5, got ready and ate some breakfast before heading down to the square. I took a moment to reflect on my training, read last year’s recap, and think of those who helped along the way with Team JDRF. I wasn’t nervous, I was ready to run, I was excited to run what I had spent the last 112 days training for.

I found great parking in a near empty lot right off the square with about 5 port-a-pottys just about to myself. I made a quick stop, headed up to the square and made sure to take in the moment before taking my place in line. I saw many familiar faces of MCRR and we all wished each other good luck. I hopped in between the 2:00 and 2:10 pace groups, put in one ear bud and was ready to go.

The calm before the race

The calm before the race

We were off and I quickly got myself up next to the 2:00 pacers. I knew the first three miles would be the easiest and I wanted to take advantage of them. I tried to keep my pace as comfortable as possible, but I also didn’t want to pass the pacers. A lot of people were going out quickly and there was no clear group of people sticking with us yet.

We made our way away from the square and out towards some of the housing developments. It was all so familiar after running the course runs I was able to focus more on my breathing than running. We passed a few groups cheering and so far the temperature wasn’t too bad. Our pace was a little quick, but I knew we’d slow down once we made it to the first hill.

Mile 1- 8:47
Mile 2-9:06

Out of the developments, we made our way on Reagan. With the rolling hills, I tried to use the momentum from the downhill to push myself up, and not focus on how much effort I was using. I was still keeping a steady pace with the pacers, and while others spent time talking and joking around, I kept my silence and focused on the run.

We made our way on Granger and I looked forward to a bit of shade.  It was starting to warm up a bit, but not too much where I was uncomfortable yet. About 3.5 miles in we turned towards Lake Medina, and I mentally prepared myself for the small hill up towards the lake. My pace was still quick, and definitely a lot quicker than I had normally run around the lake. I tried to keep my focus and let the pacers lead me through instead of worrying about the run. The slight breeze over the lake helped to keep us cool and the views were gorgeous. I easily could have stayed there for an hour to sit back and relax.

Halfway through the lake, we made our way back down on the grass and out to the parking lot. I knew that the giant hill was coming and told myself not to worry, just take it a step at a time.
Mile 3-9:00
Mile 4-9:05

As I made my way up on the hill I started to fade back from the pacers. I wasn’t too concerned because this hill was tough. I tried to take advantage of the slight downhill afterward, but it wasn’t quite enough to get me back on their pace. I was ok with that, I wasn’t trying to break 2 today. So I kept a bit behind them and tried not to let the gap get too large. I could feel my body start to get a little tight from the hill and the slight inclines that followed, but knew that around the 10k mark I’d had a bit of relief.

I kept going, keeping the pacers slightly in front of me, every so calmly keeping an eye on my pace. I had been drinking sips of water after every mile, but it was around this point that I realized I had never taken my sport bean at mile 4. Now feeling a little tired, it made sense. I hurried up and fueled, hoping I’d feel better shortly.
Mile 5-9:14
Mile 6-9:33

Leaving the development, we started on Smith.  Having run these roads so many times last year, I knew the route like the back of my hand and that I’d be in for some decent shade within the next mile. But right before mile 7, I stopped to stretch. My hips were getting tight and I knew I had some more inclines that would need somewhat of fresh legs to tackle.

As I stood back up, a gentleman passing me asked if I felt ok. I was getting hot and tired, slightly faint, but overall, I didn’t feel horrible, just not myself. But I suppose I looked worse than I felt. I continued on my way and ran down the biggest decline of the race. We were in full sun now, and for the first time in a long time, I walked the water stop.

I started to run again, but I was starting to struggle. I slowed down a bit, hoping that maybe going out too quick was catching up with me. I knew these next few miles would be tough. Every time I ran the course, I mentally blocked myself from running as well as I could. Knowing we were over half way done, I started to countdown the miles, hoping they’d go by quick.

We made our way towards Sturbridge and I finally reached a breaking point. I started to walk. My legs were screaming and I was so tired that I just didn’t want to go any further. So I stretched and decided I’d run a half mile, then walk a tenth of mile, just until my body felt back to normal.
Mile 7-9:49
Mile 8-11:10

Still counting down the miles, I continued my plan of walking/running. I walked the water stops as well, trying to soak up as much hydration as I could. There were many times that I wanted to text Darren and tell  him I was done, to come pick me up on the course, but I thought of Team JDRF, and I knew I’d do whatever I could to cross that finish line.

Once I hit the 10 mile mark, I knew I had a 5k left, a very long 5k. The temperature was getting hotter and I was getting warmer. I took a sport bean hoping it would help, and starting drink water about every quarter mile. I continued my walk/jog, disappointed in myself that I had to walk, but I couldn’t keep up enough energy to run.

Knowing I had saved time in the first 6 miles, I knew I wasn’t too far behind where I wanted to end up. But just as I was trying to do math, the 2:10 pace group showed up next to me. I stayed with them until I found a port-a-potty. I stood in line for a good 3-4 minutes, second guessing if I really needed to use it. I was in and out as quick as I could, but I know that it added time onto my race.

Mile 9-11:19
Mile 10-14:52 (Bathroom stop)

With two miles to go, I knew I was falling way behind any goal time. I started questioning myself, only two weeks ago I was running a sub 2 half, and now I’d be lucky if I made it in under 2:20. I also started to feel sick, and started to worry if I’d spend the last part of my run throwing up again.

Turning on Oak to West Park, I was on roads I hadn’t run much, and they seemed to go on forever. I was getting closer and I could feel that every time I ran my pace was good, but I just couldn’t hold it without being in pain. By this point, everything hurt. My feet and legs were toast and I wondered how I’d ran those first six miles so perfectly.
Mile 11-11:47
Mile 12-11:41

The last mile was tough. I started to become anxious knowing I was getting so close. I made my way down the bricks and thought of last year, how happy I was finishing with Melissa, and this year, how I was letting my personal cheering section down.

As I approached the square I started to feel sick again, this time from nerves. I tried to pick up my speed but it didn’t help, instead I ended up on the side of the course coughing and gagging. A gentleman asked if I was ok, and helped me get back on course.

I moved as slow as I could with tears in my eyes. My race that I spent so much time and miles training for was finally over.
Mile 13-11:38
Last .12-13:25

Almost finished

Almost finished

After I finished, I grabbed my medal and met up with Darren, his cousin and my mom. The first thing I did was apologize. I felt so bad they came out to watch me, and I failed, miserably. We took some time for me to stretch, listen to awards and then walked the Farmers Market. I finally felt a little better, but I was still struggling with the heat.

This race was definitely a tale of two halves. The first half was amazing and I was running exactly where I wanted to be. But the second half, I fell apart. I know I have no one to blame but myself, and I’m still disappointed in how I ran the second part of the course. But know that I’ve had time to dwell on it, I know it was a combination of things that really led to my destruction. My legs were toast and my feet were sore as can be. I pushed my legs too hard in the week before, and my shoes were on their last miles. Even though I carried water, the heat and my lack of properly fueling led me to wear down way to early.

 

Half number 16

Half Marathon #16, by far my favorite medal

The course, the support, the volunteers, everything else was amazing. I absolutely love this race and I know it will be in my race schedule for years to come. And although I had a bad race, I know so many who had amazing races. Everything I did wrong was all on me, and sometimes we just have bad races. Not every race will be perfect, so I need to let go, move on, and prepare myself for the next one.

 

Race swag

Race swag

Results

Time: 2:18:37

AG 25-29: 31/69

Female: 271/581

Overall: 546/942

 

*Registration is already open for the 2015 Medina Half Marathon. With the current cost at just $45, I’d definitely recommend signing up for it now. I’ll see you out there!

 

Cleveland Half Marathon Recap

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Running is all about the numbers. Distance, time, splits, mileage, pace, they all mean something. But one number stands out, a milestone, a goal, a number to crush. After 3 years and 15 half marathons, I finally met my goal. On Sunday, at the Cleveland Half Marathon, I finally ran a sub 2:00 half marathon.

After I ran the Medina Half course last weekend I had doubts about running sub 2. I had put in the miles, and I’d been faster in my races. But the Medina course had me second guessing everything I had done this year. So with the few days leading up to Cleveland, I decided my best shot at running sub 2 would be there. Inside I was bursting to tell everyone that I was going to give it my all on Sunday and hopefully see that little “1” on the front end of my finish time. But instead I kept it to myself, scared I was setting myself up for failure.

Friday after work I went to the expo, and quickly made it through with just a shirt and a few Sport Bean Recovery Beans. As I went down the last aisle, I ran into a familiar face, Coach Kara, my favorite high school coach, and pace coach for Cleveland Marathon. We spoke briefly, and I told her of my goal, hoping to get words of wisdom. She believed I could do it, and handed me two pace bands. If I stayed between the splits, I’d get it.

Goal range

Goal range

Sunday started at 3am for me. I already had everything laid out, so I ate an extra helping of breakfast, stretched, read my previous Cleveland race recaps, and may have shed a few tears. By 4:30, I was on the road and made it to Brunswick to meet up with Jeanne and her neighbor Laurie. By 5:15, we were on the road and making our way towards Cleveland. The drive was fairly easy and we avoided most of the traffic, but I couldn’t help but feel nervous the closer we got.

Accidental team neon green!

Accidental team neon green!

After we parked, we made our way to the bag drop and visited the port-a-pottys a few times to get rid of all last minute nerves. We lined up in corral C, mentioning the plan to possibly stay together, and hopefully get me in under 2. The gun went off and we walked toward the start until it was finally our time to run. This was it, I was going to give it everything I had in these next 13.1 miles no matter what.

The first mile, as always was congested, and we were dodging and weaving to find an open space in the crowd. We quickened our pace and tried to get to where we needed to be, instead of starting out too slow and playing catch up. I was a little nervous I was going out too fast, but I knew it was easier to slow down later than speed up when I was worn down.

Everything felt great, and I was keeping up with the pace pretty well. Jeanne was a little ahead of Laurie and I, but we had her in sight and I wasn’t too concerned about being left behind yet. I was taking sips of water after every mile, and by mile three, the crowd had started to thin out just enough that we weren’t running into each other anymore.

Mile 1-8:44
Mile 2-8:37
Mile 3-8:45

Laurie and I kept running together, checking our watches every quarter mile or so. We knew we were still ahead of pace, but I was feeling good, so we kept with it. I took a sport bean after mile 4 even though I felt I didn’t need it yet. It was around this point that I noticed I had pretty much zoned out on the race. The miles had ticked by quickly, but I hadn’t really been paying attention to them. I was so focused on staying ahead of pace that I blocked everything else out. It was a blessing really, I wasn’t analyzing every second of the race, instead I was just there, running it.

Mile 4-8:42
Mile 5-8:32

By mile 5, I started to wonder what exactly I was doing. My pace had been under 9 for the entire race, yet my legs were feeling great, and I felt oddly comfortable. It was a surreal feeling, but knew that it could change at any mile. As we checked our pace, I mentioned that I’d rather have a little extra time, than cut it down to the wire at the finish. So we would keep going until we needed to slow down.

We were approaching the 10k mark, and I saw Sarah out of the corner of my eye. I yelled hello, and waved, and went on my way to the 10k mark, hitting it at 55 minutes. We continued on our way, half of the race behind us, hoping my legs could keep up for the second half of the race. Any while my splits were still sub 9, I was completely surprised at the times I was hitting. I was well ahead of my normal pace, and still 4 minutes under the 2 hour mark splits on my pace band. We caught up with Jeanne, but after about a mile together she veered off towards a port-a-potty. I was nervous to be left alone, but Laurie stayed with me, and kept me on pace.

I took another sport bean at mile 8 and noticed my hips had a small twinge. They were starting to get sore, but I tried to block it out. I couldn’t let anything get it my head. Eight miles down, five to go, the countdown was on.

Mile 7-8:41
Mile 8-8:35

I was finally back into familiar territory in this part of the race. I enjoyed the moments of shade and tried to keep my pace consistent. I couldn’t help but think back to the Hermes 10 Miler and the Flap Jack 15k, I had done great until the end, and hoped that my body wouldn’t start to shut down by mile 10. I hadn’t pushed myself this hard in a race of this distance before, I was starting to enter the unknown and I had no idea how my body would react.

That thought left my mind as I saw Elayna and Marissa on the side of the course between mile 9 and 10. I was beyond excited to see them, and was quickly overcome with emotion. I started to cheer up and before I knew it, I was running over to see them. I attempted a weird side hug, but my legs steered me back on course. Not even a minute later, my emotions got the best of me and I started coughing and gagging. I couldn’t throw up, not with so much left in the race. I did whatever I could to get back into a normal pace, and about a half mile later, I was finally good again.

It took a while, but I was back on pace. At this point, my hips started to ache more and I was concerned as we approached the last two miles. I knew there was some incline, but my legs weren’t ready for it. I tried to focus on my watch, telling myself that I’d come so far, I couldn’t let the last few miles break me down.

On a mission

On a mission

Mile 9-8:44
Mile 10-8:53
Mile 11-8:48

The next two miles were hard. For the first time all race my pace was over 9 minutes, and by a lot. The combination of the inclines, my sore hips, and running a pace I wasn’t used to for 11 miles hit me hard. I mentally started to break down, questioning if I could do it. Every time I reached the top of the hill, I’d see another. Laurie helped to push me along, and it helped me more than she could ever know. I didn’t want to give up, but it was hard. So I kept telling myself, I’m going to do it, I’m going to break 2. I had to do whatever I could to keep the momentum up.

As we reached the last hill, I could feel my pace start to pick up, and after two incredibly hard miles, I finally felt confident about breaking 2. I had worked so hard for the first eleven miles, I wasn’t going to let the last two get to me.

Mile 12-9:48
Mile 13-9:31

I took advantage of the decline and the straightaway as much as I could. The crowds were getting louder, and I could feel the city pulling me in. Knowing the course showed up long on my watch, I kept staring down to see what I hit when it turned over to 13.1. When 1:55 was on my watch, I couldn’t believe it. I had never seen those numbers together, and honestly never thought I would. I couldn’t help but smile.

I started to pick up my pace, knowing I was so close to the finish, yet I still wasn’t done. I started to fade and veered off to the right of the crowd. I didn’t feel myself, and couldn’t control what would happen next. Instead of running towards the finish with a smile on my face and hands up in the air, I was throwing up, over and over as I made my way to the finish until I finally got there.

Don't puke, don't puke!

Don’t puke, don’t puke!

Last .3-9:06

I got sick again, but I was finally able to walk it off. I grabbed my medal, met up with Laurie, and finally looked at my watch. 1:58:00. I had done it. I broke 2 and ran a 7 minute, 55 second PR. And I had left everything I had on the course while doing it.

Happy as can be!

Happy as can be!

We found Jeanne and got a group picture before grabbing food and taking a seat in the sun. And although I was excited, it hadn’t quite hit me yet. But I soaked in the moment as much as I could. After a while we made our way back to gear check, then the car, and we were back on the road towards home. I made sure to stop at Panera on my way home to grab a cinnamon roll that would be my reward for making it through another long run. It wasn’t until I pulled in the garage and turned off my car, that everything hit me, and I finally cried tears of joy.

I couldn’t have asked for a better day on Sunday. The weather was perfect, the course was greatly improved and for most of the race, my run felt effortless. I didn’t know what I’d feel the first time I broke 2, or when it would happen, but I’m glad that I did it at the race that started it all.

I can’t help but admit that there is a feeling of what now. This number that I held up with so much admiration and fear is no longer there, a feeling of being a little lost. I don’t know if I’ll break 2 again, or if it was a one time thing. But one thing is for certain, I’ll never forget the day I finally broke 2 hours.

Race swag

Race swag

Official Results:

Garmin Time: 1:58:00

Age Group 25-29: 148/726

Gender: 652/3589

Overall: 1752/6113

Flap Jack & Jill 15k Recap

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Saturday morning I woke up extra early, met up with Amy, and headed out to Peninsula for the Flap Jack & Jill 15k. I wasn’t really sure what to expect because I’d never run a 15k before, but since I had to get the miles in, I went for it. Originally my goal was to stay at 9:20 pace for the 15k and follow it up with an additional 3-5 miles at a much slower pace.

Amy and I made our way to the parking lot and didn’t realize how far we’d have to walk to get our bib and shirt. So naturally I left my water, iPod and sport beans in the car, thinking we’d have time to get them. Nope! By the time we picked up our shirt and used the port-a-pot, we didn’t have enough time to run the 3/4 mile to the car and the 3/4 mile back. So we decided to forget it, and met up with Jeanne instead.

We lined up and were ready to go. We were near the front so we were quickly pulled with the rest of the pack. After about a quarter of a mile people started to spread out, but we were still at a quick pace. I tried to take in the views since I’d never run that part of CVNP before.

We're off!

We’re off!

The course was relatively flat and easy on the legs. Still going at a faster speed that I was ready for we started to slow down a bit. The sun was starting to come out and things started to get a little toasty.

Mile 1-8:54
Mile 2-9:18

We continued on the path, feeling really good. I started to wonder when my legs would get tired, but they kept up. It wasn’t until later into mile 3 or 4 that we started to see the first runners on their way back. I always think this helps to distract me from the run and pull me along the course.

The further we went, the better the views were and we even managed to take a few photos on the run.

Mile 4 Selfie

Mile 4 Selfie

Beautiful day in the CVNP.

Beautiful day in the CVNP.

Seriously, the views were beautiful.

Mile 3-9:13
Mile 4-9:04

Before the turn around point I grabbed a bit of water, just to make sure I was staying hydrated. I was still feeling really good despite the pace we were running. I wasn’t sure how long I’d be able to keep it up, but I went with it.

We continued to talk throughout our run and managed to keep a relatively close pace for each mile. The sun was still out and we could see a few runners making their way to the turnout point. It wasn’t until mile 6 that my hips started to get a little sore. I’m not sure if it was my hips or the fact we were more in the woods so everything looked the same, but that mile felt like it went on forever. I could feel my energy starting to sink, but knew I only had a little over a 5k left, so I had to hold on.

Mile 5-9:18
Mile 6-9:14

Once we got to mile 7, I knew I could handle 2 more miles. I kept forgetting about the extra .3, or maybe I was mentally trying to ignore that it would be there. Amy shared a Honey Stinger Chew and it was exactly what I needed to boost my energy.

My legs were starting to feel the pain my hips had and I felt like I was dragging both Amy and Jeanne down. Once we got to mile 8 I knew I could get some water and stretch so I kept my focus on that. Amy pulled ahead of us, and Jeanne and I kept up the pace  before stopping for water and a stretch.

Mile 7-9:11
Mile 8-9:41

I thought I had grabbed water, but it turned out to be some sort of sugar water. Not what I wanted, but it was something. We stayed for a bit to stretch, but didn’t wait too long before heading back on the trail. At this point I knew I wanted to be done. My legs were toast and I didn’t know how I was going to get back. There were a number of times that I wanted to just sit down and stop, but knew I couldn’t give up.

It was probably around this point that I decided that instead of 12-14 long miles, today would end up being another trial. I wanted to find out if the Hermes 10 was a fluke, if I really could run fast. I was running at almost race pace for the 15k, just 12 hours after running my best 5k in over 4 years. If anything I wanted to see how much I could push myself on dead legs, to see how I could handle mile 10-13 of a sub 2 attempt. It may not be logical, but at the time, it was the only thing getting me to the finish.

Mile 9-9:23

When we reached the last mile marker, I was excited to be almost done, but knew we still had a ways to go. I tried to kick in it as much as I could, but I struggled to get my legs to turn over. Jeanne and I started to spread out a bit, but I did whatever I could to keep her in my sight. We rounded off the trail and came up the driveway, and I gave it everything I could to finish the race.

Last .34-9:17 pace

Final kick!

Final kick!

I was exhausted, tired and sore, but I was happy for how I had raced. I finished my first 15k, and averaged a 9:14 pace, something I never thought I could do. But really, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Amy and Jeanne pushing me the entire way.

After the race, pancakes, sausage, eggs and fruit were available. I didn’t get the breakfast, but it looked pretty good. Instead, I watched flap jacks get thrown around.

Runners and flap jack catchers

Runners and flap jack catchers

Overall I thought this was a great race. It was the first year, but I hope it sticks around for a while. The race also made me want to run more trails, so looks like like I’ll be getting some trail shoes soon!

Race swag

Race swag

Official Results:

Time: 1:26:25

AG 25-29: 3/8

Gender: 25/56

Overall: 54/93

Run.4.Fun 5k Recap

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Last Friday instead of relaxing and going to bed early, I ran a local 5k the night before my long run. I was satisfied with my 5k time from the previous week, but I really wondered what I could do with fresh legs. The Run.4.Fun is an annual 5k put on by the Medina City Schools Foundation. And even though I don’t live within Medina City School limits, I was happy to run a race where money would be going to a good cause.

I spent all Friday watching what I ate, over hydrating, and making sure I was mentally ready to run. Knowing that I’d only have an hour until the race started once I got home from work, I rushed to get everything ready and made it to the high school by 7:00. I ran into a few MCRR members and asked them about the course. The said it had some gradual inclines, including the last half mile. Hearing this I immediately threw the thought of a PR out the window, and just hoped to have a strong race.

Right before 7:30, everyone lined up, and I felt ready to go. Instead of focusing on my watch, I wanted to listen to my legs and see what they were truly capable of. The first mile was very similar to the Frosty 5k course and  I was thankful I didn’t have to be cautious of the ice. We headed out of the high school and around one of the developments that is part of the Medina Half course. I was feeling pretty good, but noticed I was hanging around a 7:56 pace.

I wasn’t sure how long I could hang on, but continued to keep a steady pace until the end of the first mile. I knew if I wanted to survive, I’d have to slow it down. We passed the first water stop and I made my way to the outside to avoid the hustle just in time to see that mile 1 was in the books.

Mile 1- 8:08

The second mile has always been the hardest for me. Usually because I’m regretting how quickly I went out on the first mile. I knew I wanted to keep this mile a little slower, but not as slow as last week’s second mile. I was still feeling comfortable enough that I wasn’t sucking wind, but wasn’t sure if I’d be able to push it during my last mile. We covered a few neighborhoods with some slight inclines, but they weren’t too awful.

Mile 2- 8:34

I’m not sure why or how, but in the beginning of the third mile, seconds began to fall off my pace instantly. I started to pick people off, one by one and could feel myself getting quicker. We rounded out towards more neighborhoods and made our way back towards the high school.

And then I saw the last half mile. We had a gradual incline that pretty much lasted the entire last half of the third mile. I tried to be strong, but couldn’t help but slow down some. I made my way around a few people, and was so glad when I finally saw the mile 3 marker. At this point, all I needed to do was round the last turn up to the track and finish that long 100 meter stretch.

Mile 3- 8:08

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t constantly checking my Garmin the last part of the race. I hadn’t done much math, but I knew I’d be cutting it close, especially after the long incline. I gave it all I had and crossed the finish with a new post college PR!

Last .1 – 7:00 pace

I was ecstatic after I finished, and very close to losing everything in my stomach. I made my way to the inside of the track and spoke with a few MCRR members who all seemed to have a great day out there too.

This 5k was a great race, not only because of my time, but it was also well organized. Since February I’ve dropped almost 3 minutes off my 5k time, and I couldn’t be more excited. I still have about 3 minutes to drop to beat my all time PR, but I’m getting closer. I’d like to see if I can get under 25 this year, but for now I’m content with my 5k time.

I didn’t stay for awards, but I ended up with third in my age group and won a medal and a gift card to Active Runner. Completely unexpected, but very grateful.

photo

 

Results:

Time: 25:26

AG 25-59: 3/14

Gender: 38/225

Overall: 119/458

Love a Stray 5k Recap

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I ran the Love-A-Stray 5k on Sunday for the third year in a row. I ran it in 2012 when they first started and had a fantastic race. Then I ran in in 2013 and they changed the course to a more runner friendly route. This year they kept the same course, and I had my best 5k yet of 2014! As I’ve mentioned before, Love-A-Stray has always held a special place in my heart. I volunteered with them in high school, and have adopted two wonderful cats from them. Knowing that proceeds from this race help their organization are always worth more than the run itself.

I originally signed up for the race as a recovery run from the Hermes 10 Miler. I was going to run with a friend and her puppy and enjoy the race from a different perspective. But when she couldn’t make it, the thought of truly racing it crossed my mind. Knowing that the 5k was the day after the 10 miler made me a little nervous. But I decided I’d play it by ear, and worst case scenario, I’d have three miles added in for the month of April.

I spent the night at my parent’s house, and got to the race with plenty of time to pick up my packet, do a short jog, and get in one more bathroom break. The weather was a lot colder than the previous day so I added gloves to my outfit and hoped I’d be warm enough by the time we got started.

I positioned myself between the 8:00 and 9:00 minute pace signs hoping that I could be pulled along by those running a faster pace. Once we were off I tried to go towards the side to avoid the crowd. I didn’t want to check my watch until about a half mile or once I found a pace I was comfortable with.

Ready to go!

Ready to go!

I was feeling pretty good and decided to check my watch. I instantly slowed down once I saw I was pushing a 7:30 pace. I edged my way back and found myself behind a woman and her daughter. They were running just above 8:30 and I figured I’d join them for a while, there was no sense in pushing it this early in the race.

Waiting to make my move

Waiting to make my move

Mile 1- 8:20

We made our way around the woods and entered into the development before heading into the woods again. I was feeling good, but could feel a slight pain just under my heart and couldn’t decide if it was a cramp or my heart. I slowed down a bit and tried to focus on my breathing.

At about the halfway mark we reached the water stop. I normally don’t take water in a 5k, but I grabbed a cup, and threw some in my mouth and face. It seemed to help as the cramp started to go away by the third mile.

Mile 2- 8:48

Entering the third mile, I knew I had to pace myself properly. I remembered from last year that I started to get too excited to finish a little too early and wore myself down, so I tried to keep a steady pace the entire way. I was feeling good and actually felt better than the second mile. My only restraint was my legs, I kept trying to push them, but they just wouldn’t turn over quick enough. I knew this was from the race the day before, but I was honestly surprised they were still in the low 8’s range.

Coming in on the last half mile.

Coming in on the last half mile.

As we got closer to the opening at the end of the woods I had to hold myself back. I knew I had a few smaller turns before I could pick up my speed. As I made my way through the final turns I never once checked my watch. I relied solely on my legs and knew that whatever time I got, I had given it my all.

Mile 3 – 8:18

Done!

Done!

Last .1 – 7:27 pace

I squeaked in just under 26 minutes at 25:29. I needed a moment to catch my breath, but I was so excited and felt great! I had taken a minute and a half off my last 5k in March and completely passed over 26 minutes. I’m closing in on my post college PR, but honestly, I never felt so great or in control while racing a 5k. I didn’t know what to expect after the 10 miler, but knowing I left it all out on the course both days felt fantastic. The entire weekend showed me just how far I’ve come this year, and how strong I am.

Shortly after I finished, my sister and her boyfriend came over to greet me. They got to watch me finish and stayed for a bit to walk around and check out the vendors. It was nice to have someone at the finish for once, and it may have pushed me to run a little harder in the last mile.

Personal cheerleader

Personal cheerleader!

I can’t say enough good things about this race. Each year it gets better and better. And the competition gets faster and faster. The first three in my age group all ran 7:xx pace and completely left me in the dust. I hope to continue the tradition and run this race every year!

Race swag

Race swag

Results:

Time: 25:59

Age Group 25-29: 5/27

Gender: 26/227

Overall: 78/352

 

 

 

Hermes 10 Miler Recap

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This was the first year that I had run the Hermes 10 Miler, but I knew in the months leading up to it that it would be a crucial race. With five weeks between the Hermes 10 and the Medina Half, I knew that whatever time I ran would determine how close sub 2 would be for Medina. With it being my second 10 mile race, the first one a month before, I still wasn’t sure how to race it, how to pace, or what I expected my time to be. The night before I joked with Darren that I wanted to run 1:32, a 4 minute drop from March’s 10 mile race, but realistically was planning on 1:35.

I woke up at 5:45, had my new pre race/long run breakfast of a Bagel Thin and Chewy granola bar and debated for about an hour or so on what to wear. I was a little nervous, but I was more concerned about the 45 minute drive and finding a place to park with enough time before the race. I finally decided on capris and my Flyte Long sleeve, still enough clothing to keep me warm, but light enough that I hopefully wouldn’t be sweating to death.

The drive up was fairly easy, but as I passed by my office I realized I need to use the restroom now, and probably couldn’t wait until the race. I stopped at McDonald’s and was in and out within a minute. About ten minutes later I pulled into Edgewater and struggled to find parking. After getting kicked out of a few areas, a bunch of us headed way back towards the entrance and I scrambled to get everything ready and over to the start line. Looking back I was thankful I stopped at McDonald’s when I did.

Good morning Cleveland

Good morning Cleveland, welcome to Edgewater

Lining up I felt rushed and still wasn’t sure how the race would go. My plan was to run a 9:30 pace or under and see how I felt. We started the race and I followed the crowd for a bit, trying to settle into a decent pace. Luckily I found myself right above 9:30 and so I tried to maintain the pace. Soon enough my headphones kept falling out so I fiddled with them, pulling the cord and pushing them back into my ears for probably a good half mile. It wasn’t until about a mile in that I realized my playlist was all wrong. I had charged my iPod the night before, but never put it back to my race playlist. So I pulled it out and started to fiddle with that as well. By this point we were well into our second mile and I just didn’t feel myself. I didn’t feel ready to run the rest of the race, and hoped it would quickly change.

Mile 1-9:19
Mile 2-9:24

It wasn’t until mile three that I started to feel like myself while running. I was now down to a pretty steady pace, still above 9:30, but I felt good so I kept with it. I was taking a small bit of water after each mile marker to make sure I stayed hydrated. I was starting to get a little warm, but once in a while a gust of wind came along and helped to cool me down. It was also during this part of the race where the leaders had turned and were heading towards us. It was a great distraction to watch them zoom by.

I made my turn and started to debate when I was going to fuel. I thought mile 4 would be a little too early so I opted to wait until mile 5. I kept running along, watching runners head towards the turn around and tried to keep my mind from doing math.

Mile 3-9:23
Mile 4-9:20

Once I got to mile 5 I waited a bit before taking my sport beans. I was halfway through and still feeling good. My legs still felt fresh and I wasn’t sucking air. I decided to stick with the pace as far as I could and as long as I stayed above 9:30, I knew I’d get my 1:35 or under. When I finally took my sport beans I struggled to get the bag in and out of my Flip Belt. For some reason, my hands just wouldn’t work. I definitely wasted more energy than I needed trying to fuel, and determined I’ll have to move them back to the pocket on my hand held.

Luckily it didn’t slow me down too much, but I tried not to push myself to get back to the pace I was running. It was during these next few miles that we started back in towards Edgewater. I was still feeling good and somehow kept creeping up towards 9:10. I slowed myself down some knowing that I was running in some uncharted territory for this distance.

Mile 5-9:22
Mile 6-9:21

I’m not sure how, but the next two miles seemed to fly by. I knew I was closing in on the miles and still feeling good, I wanted to test myself. I picked up the pace a little, but not too much where I was struggling. I was feeling strong until I saw the hill as we entered Edgewater Park. I was nervous that this was where everything would fall apart and my legs would  be toast, but somehow I coasted up the hill passing people and barely changed my pace. I kept going and at that point I knew if I just kept the pace, I could definitely PR.

Post hill happiness

Post hill happiness

Mile 7-9:16
Mile 8-9:17

The last two miles were definitely the hardest. I was in an area of town that I was not familiar with at all. I wasn’t sure where we were going or what to expect. I lost satellite in the tunnels and somehow end up with a 11:xx pace when I came out. I started to panic, wondering how I’d lost so much in such a short amount of time. Luckily, my Garmin bounced back, but I spent too much time focusing on my watch than the road.

The small rollers and inclines didn’t help either. My legs were beginning to ache and I could feel myself break down. The wind started to become an issue and I really started to question what the last mile would bring.

Mile 9-9:44

It wasn’t until I passed the mile 9 marker that I really thought I could do it. I welcomed the downhill with open arms, but was smacked in the face with the wind. I made my way around the last neighborhood and back through the tunnel. I could see the finish in the distance, but it felt so far away.

I pushed myself over and over to get closer, but was concerned I was picking up speed too early, so I backed off a bit. I continued to fight the wind from Lake Erie and once I was about 200 feet from the finish I gave it everything I had. I saw 1:32:xx on the giant clock and was ecstatic. I gave it everything I had, and hit my somewhat of a joke goal of running 1:32.

Mile 10-9:06

Hard earned

Hard earned and greatly appreciated

I walked around for a bit after I finished, soaking in the race and the beautiful views over the lake. After a while I walked back over the beach and headed towards my car. I was still in shock of the pace I ran, amazed how close my pace was to running a sub 2 half marathon. It wasn’t until that race, that moment, that I fully realized that maybe sub 2 is a reality this year.

I had such a good experience with this race and I can’t wait to run it again. I couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather and a more perfect race day. Even though it was my “B” race for the spring, it feels almost as good as running sub 2 right now.

Race swag

Race swag

Results:

Time: 1:32:19

Age Group 25-29: 74/191

Gender: 303/1045

Overall: 783/1752

Strongsville Super Saturday 5k Recap

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In the beginning of the year, I put the Strongsville Super Saturday 5k on my tentative race schedule. A few months passed and about two days before the race I realized I hadn’t registered, which meant it was time to make a decision if I would run or not. Knowing I would have a long run Sunday, I didn’t want to burn out my legs, but I’ve been missing speed work lately and I really wanted to test the waters of the 5k since my last one.

I woke up early enough to eat, relax and try to settle my nerves. You’d think by this point I wouldn’t get so worked up about a race….nope! I got there with about 15 minutes to spare, registered and got one more bathroom break in before the race started. Because I registered day of, I didn’t get a shirt, but really, I don’t need another short sleeve cotton shirt. (I did love the green color though!)

I didn’t have a goal for this race, other than beat my previous 5k’s time. I would go out and run how I felt, hoping not to embarrass myself after the lack of miles earlier in the week. We were off, and everyone sprinted ahead. I tried not to get caught up in the crowd, but couldn’t help quickly dropping into a sub 9:00 pace. I knew there was a hill coming up at the half way point, so I tried to keep my pace consistent. About a half mile in, I was easily cruising at an 8:30 pace. I felt comfortable at this pace, so decided to stick with it. The first mile is pretty flat and wraps around Pearl from the Strongsville Rec Center into a nearby development. Mile 1-8:32.

The second mile went through Falling Waters and lead through a housing development that reminded me of an old route in Medina I used to run. The road had slight curves, but knowing it was leading up to the hill, I focused more on my pace than the surroundings. I dropped a bit to an 8:38 pace, but was keeping it pretty steady. At about the half way point, the hill was finally in sight. Knowing I had almost no hills under my belt this year, I was a little concerned with how it would go. It was steep and it was a half mile long. Yikes!

I charged the hill, slowed my pace, and told myself to focus one step at a time. I had some chest pains mid hill that made me nervous, but I think it was my body letting me know it was angry for running quick and throwing in the giant hill. I finally made it to the top, and my pace slowed to 9:10. Not awful, but I wanted to stay under 9:00. I grabbed some water at the water stop and started on the last mile. Mile 2-9:08.

By mile three, I was started to get tired, but still had enough energy in me that I stayed under a 9:00 minute pace. We headed out of the development and back on to Pearl. My pace at this point was all over the place, ranging from 8:34-8:58. I started to pick off a few people, and my legs started to get excited we were almost done. We turned into the Target shopping center and were met with a small incline. At this point, any incline was tough and it was the last thing you wanted to see before the finish. We went towards the back of the shopping center and no matter how fast your ran, it felt like the finish was never getting closer. Mile 3- 8:39

The final stretch had a slight downhill and I could see the clock once I turned the final corner. I gave it everything I had and hoped for the best. Finish: 27:32.

It was faster than my last 5k, but slower than I thought I would have done. It wasn’t until a few moments later, I noticed my Garmin showed 3.17, a long course. I heard another runner say they got 3.2. Overall I had felt really strong, even with the hill, and had it been a flat course, I probably would have hit the 3.1 mark somewhere around 26:xx.

I was definitely bummed with my time, but I ran a much stronger race, and my pace was where I wanted it to be. I can tell that I’m getting faster and getting my speed back, but I still need to work on hills. I’ll for sure put this race on my calendar for next year, and get revenge on the hill.

photo 1

 

Official Results:

Time: 27:32

Overall Place: 119/270

Female: 43/133

AG 25-29: 4/13

 

 

 

St. Malachi 5 Mile Recap

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Saturday I ran the St. Malachi 5 miler for the second time. It’s hard to believe that I haven’t run this race that much before, because it is becoming a favorite. With such a unique distance, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to race it or use it as part of my long run. I decided I’d take it easy and use it as part of my long run. Somehow I was able to convince my friend Elayna to sign up for the race so we could run it together. Because this was her first St. Malachi, I asked her to do a recap to get her perspective on the race.

“In a not-so-typical last minute fashion, I agreed to race with Chelsea for the St. Malachi 5-mile.  Prior to this, I had gone on a few runs that were between 3-4 miles, but I hadn’t really pushed much more than that.  About 20 minutes before I left that morning, I checked the map, and instantly got excited. The race ran through downtown Cleveland, up and around Cleveland Browns Stadium, and finished off in one of my favorite spots—Ohio City.  Even though I don’t really enjoy running too much, I really like spending time with Chelsea, so it always ends up being fun…and I feel pretty good when I finish running too!

So we hustled down to the Ohio City area, desperately looking for a parking spot. Luckily we had just enough cash to pay for my entry and parking. We ended up having a little warm-up jog, dodging everyone who had finished the two-mile to pick up my race packet, run back to the car, run to the bathroom, and head out for the race. As we approached the start line, it was clear the race had started just a few moments before—so we were off!!

I have done 2 races other than Malachi in my life—so I’m not exactly speaking from experience here. But the first mile felt pretty good–it was a lot of weaving before we found a comfortable pace. Chelsea was kind enough to slow down and run with me, which is typically a 10-11mi/mile pace.  About a half a mile in, we passed some cute Irish dancers accompanied by traditional Irish music, which picked up the spirits of the whole group of us running down St. Clair.  The second mile we felt pretty comfortable, and by the 3rd we spotted one of my husband’s best friends booking it around the stadium on his way around. He paced under a 7mi/mile finish, so he was quite a ways ahead of us at that point. It’s always fun to see a familiar face! The 3rd mile was a bit rough for me; drinking the night before seemed to have caught up, and I started cramping up a bit (from dehydration?) and I had some mild medial ankle pain in both feet. It was nothing worth stopping over, so we kept on trucking, nice and easy.

Honestly, there’s nothing like a few long hills to put you in your place. Miles 4-5 both had longer inclines that slowed up more than a few of us, but we kept on going. It ended up being well worth it, because as we plateaued on the Detroit-Superior Bridge, you get this great view of the mouth of Ohio City. The downhill toward the finish is full of fans on the sidewalk, cameras, and echos of the finish-line celebration down closer to the Flats.  Chelsea, with all of her wisdom, told me not to run too quickly, but honestly I thought the finish line was much sooner than it ended up being! I found myself wondering, “where the heck is the finish line?!” once the hill bottomed out.  We made it eventually, with a little bit steeper of a decline this time, and finished just over 53:00 minutes.  It was well worth it. I’d recommend the race to other people who A) want to consider running a little more seriously (there is a 2-mile option), B) want to start off St. Patty’s Day Weekend in Cleveland right, or C) want to explore downtown and the shore way a bit!

I am really excited for what Spring and Summer have to hold. This winter has been rough on all of us out here in Cleveland, and I think that cabin fever has lead me to enjoy the weather and running a bit more than I have in the past. I’m looking forward to doing a few more races before the fall, and hopefully I’ll do some of them with Chelsea. I don’t think I would have made it if I didn’t have someone to talk to who’s as great as her.”

photo

St. Malachi Finishers!

 

Frosty 5k Recap

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Sunday I ran my first race of 2014, the Frosty 5k, a small 5k put on by the Medina Rec Center. I ran this race last year, and really enjoyed it, so I had been looking forward to running it again. The race start was at 9:00 so I got up at 7:15, tried to relax and tested out a new pre run breakfast, the Au-In Almond Picky Bar. It was really good, light and didn’t give me any stomach issues. I then headed over to the rec center around 8:30 to pick up my bib, get a prime parking spot and debate if I had on enough or too many layers.

The crowd was small, but considering it was about 12*F, I was glad that there were people still out there braving the elements. Luckily the roads were clear and there wasn’t much wind, conditions were good and I was fighting away nerves. I didn’t have a goal for this race, but really wanted to focus on pacing myself. My biggest mistake in 5k’s is going out way too fast. I usually run my first mile around 7:00 and then struggle the rest of the way. Knowing that I had 4 more miles to run after the race, I wanted to keep it easy and try to stay around a 9:00 pace.

We started off and one group quickly sprinted ahead. A few more started to follow and it was hard not to go with the rest of the group. I kept watching my Garmin to make sure I wasn’t going too fast and was working on a 8:30 pace. Not bad, but I knew I had to slow down a little more. And that was hard. I didn’t realize how difficult it would be slow myself down in the first mile of the race while everyone was running full steam ahead.

The course was the same as last year, leaving the rec center, going through developments, running on Reagan Parkway, through more developments and heading back into the rec center. I didn’t focus much on the surroundings, but rather the street watching for ice and pot holes. However, within the first half mile it started to snow, and it was actually a little magical. It was slow and soft, and if I wasn’t running I would have enjoyed walking around in it.

The first mile was pretty easy, just finding my pace and making sure I wasn’t going too fast. Everyone was doing their own thing, so there wasn’t much passing happening. I hit the first mile in 9:06 and was feeling pretty good. I was slowly starting to catch up to the people in front of me and around a mile and a half in I passed two women. By this point the snow was starting to come down hard and it seemed to be coming from every direction. I continued on and found myself behind a tall gentleman. I drafted off of him for a bit and was grateful he was able to block the snow. I ended up passing him and continued on, right on pace, still feeling good.

I hit mile two at 18:xx and naturally started doing math in my head. Mile three was the hardest, not physically, but mentally. I had passed two more runners, but the snow was making it more difficult to run. When we started the race it was clear, so I didn’t have my YakTrax on. By the time we got to the third mile, the road was covered and you just expected to be the one to slip on ice. My legs wanted to go, but I kept holding them back, concerned my next step would put me flat on my back. I took advantage of the clear spots, but kept it safe in the snow covered areas. My pace was started to quicken and for once I wasn’t struggling to make it to the finish line.

I remember hitting 2.5 miles at 23:xx, I knew I was about a minute behind where I wanted to be, but considering the conditions, I wasn’t worried. I kept chugging along and passed another woman who had sprinted past me in the beginning. Now I was alone and just followed the signs to get me back home. I hit the 2.75 mile mark and was brought back to “Once a Runner” where Quenton focuses on the last lap of the mile. I imagined myself on the track, knowing it was too early to step it up (I’ve always been a 150m to the finish sprinter) and tried to open my stride. The course turned toward the rec center and had a slight uphill covered in snow, enough to keep me in check before it leveled out before the finish. The closer I got, the quicker I ran, and as Chariots of Fire came on my iPod, I finished my first 5k of 2014 feeling better than ever.

While the conditions got worse throughout the race, I wouldn’t say they caused too much damage in my run. I wasn’t running for a PR, but rather a controlled, comfortable pace. I didn’t want to end up struggling at the end of the race like I have so many times. I know I definitely could have pushed myself more, but I was timid because of the new snow on the roads. I’d rather focus on the pace than focus on a time and injure myself along the way.

I absolutely love this race. Even though there was a smaller turnout this year, I like how it’s so simple and doesn’t require all the bells and whistles. For $15, you can pre register to get a short sleeve shirt, food and the use of indoor bathrooms. While I’ve never seen a mile marker or much of a crowd, the local police do a great job of making sure that the roads are clear and that no cars will get in anyone’s way.

After the race, everyone comes inside for the awards ceremony. First place got a long sleeve shirt and water bottle, second place got a short sleeve shirt, and third place got a water bottle and lanyard. In addition, each AG winner got a $25 gift card to the rec center. I ended up with 1st in my age group, so that $15 was definitely worth it. As long as the rec center holds the 5k, I plan to be there every year.

 

Pretty good collection

Pretty good collection, love the snowman on the participant shirt!

 

Results (No official results have been posted)

Garmin Time: 28:11

Age Group 20-29: 1/4