Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Somerset Stampede Race Results

Saturday, August 17th I ran the Somerset Stampede half marathon.  This was my 4th time running this very hilly and challenging course.  It is a very small race field.  I finished 3rd female overall, so that shows you  just how small it is.  All I hoped for was a course PR.  I knew a distance PR was not obtainable. 

Here are my previous years finish times:

2009 1:46:26, 8:07 pace 3rd in age group
2010 1:40:02, 7:38 pace 2nd in age group
2011 1:44:24, 7:58 pace 1st in age group

Official Results for 2013:

Time: 1:39:00
Pace: 7:33
Age Group Place: 1/16
3rd female overall
Overall: 16/140

Monday, August 12, 2013

Run thru Hell 10 Mile race results

Saturday, August 10th, was the annual Run Thru Hell 10 mile & 4.8 mile race.  This is an event my dad's uncle has been putting on for over 30 years!  In fact, my Unc just turned 81 years old on the day of the event.  He still runs a 5K or two every weekend.  I hope I am still running at that age!

This year the course gave me same as it always does, lots of challenging hills.  You get a nice variety of hill running; steep climbs, small rolling hills, hills that you think you've reached the top but really you haven't, steep down hills, etc...  I am not very good at hills and wasn't sure how I would do this day.  We had to be up at 2:30am so we could be out the door by 3am, to be to the race site by 4am so Chris could help set up the water stops.  I brought older shoes on the verge of retirement with the intentions that I would just treat this as a work out and not race it.  I actually felt good when we took off and was able to run harder and faster than I thought I'd be able to.

I finished in 1:15:11, good for 2nd place in my age group and a new course PR.  It's also a distance PR but I've only run 3-10 mile races and they have all been Run thru Hell.  Maybe I'll try a flat 10 mile race and see what kind of time I can put up?  Chris, of course, beat me again for the 2nd week in a row.  He's just so darn strong at hills!  He finished in 1:13:50.  We have a hilly half marathon on the 17th, which I fully expect him to finish before me.

A handful of my running friends ran this race as well.  It's always so much more fun when you get to run and race with friends!! 

Official Race Results:
Time: 1:15:11
Pace: 7:32
A/G Place: 2nd/21
Overall: 81/438

Here are a few photos from the event.

Hell Creek Ranch, where the event takes place

Running in towards the finish line


Anna & my dad watching us finish

Mike, Anna & My dad (on the right)

Anna at her first Run thru Hell race

Chris, myself, Dave (5am runner), Adam (Dave's son who ran a 6:58 pace!) and Angie (5am runner)

Chris & I with our awards

Angie, Adam and myself with our awards - the 3 of use placed 2nd in our age groups




Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Clark Lake Run 12K race results

Saturday, August 3rd, was my 3rd time running the Clark Lake Run 12K.  7.456 miles for those who care not to do the math. :-)

It's a challenging course with lots of rolling hills.  My goal was to start out fast and hang on for as long as I can. May not be the smartest race day strategy but whatever. 

I really, really wanted to run a 7:10 pace.  This would give me a 53:26 finish time.  My first two miles were negative splits; 7:05 & 7:02  Great!  Now to hang on there. Well, that didn't happen.  After the first two miles, my splits were all over the place with one of the remaining miles at 7:24! I think that may have actually been mile 3, then they fluctuated between 7:13-7:16 through the rest of the course. 

I ended up crossing the finish line in 53:50, 7:13 pace.  I am satisfied with those results.  It gave me a new 12K PR and course PR.  Downfall?  My husband beat me by 10 seconds.  He's not a runner.  He's extremely fit, but not a runner.  He lifts weights and has big muscles, while running is MY thing.  He is so strong at hills though.  I wish I could run hills the way he does.  He makes it look so effortless!   We are running 2 more hilly courses over the next couple weeks; Run thru Hell 10 mile on the 10th and Somerset Stampede Half on the 17th.  I may have to quit running if he beats me at these 2 races.  Not really, but I am extremely competitive.  I don't like when he beats me.  My dad made a good point though, I have been so focused on distance running that I don't know what its like to run a short, fast race (like the 12K last weekend).  Here's to hoping I can push it hard at Run thru Hell.

So, my 53:50 finish time at Clark Lake was good for 2nd place in my age group.  They always give out a nice award too.  The previous years I ran, we received tall ceramic mugs.  This year we received pilsner glasses.  I love when I receive an award I can actually use!




Official Results:
Time: 53:50
Pace: 7:13
A/G Place: 2nd/17
Overall: 45th/256