Run thru Hell results and review

After a 3 year hiatus, my uncle's race was back on!  In the past, the crowd has topped off near 1500-1800 runners total between the wienie run (4.8 miles) and 10 mile race.  This year it just reached 1,000.  I am hoping that the word will get out that the Run thru Hell is back and we can double that total next year!

I got to the race location 2 hours before the start.  I had assumed I would need to help set up or hand out registration packets.  They didn't need me to do a thing.  I was there to be food for the humming bird sized mosquitoes though.  Holy moly, these things were awful!  I was getting eaten alive.  I tried to hard not to use insect repellent, but finally broke down and sprayed myself from the waist down.  so instead, they bit my face.  I had 3 very large welts on my forehead and side of my face.  Guess that is what happens on a damp morning out in the country! 

3 runners from my gym were running this race as well.  We met up at the start line, waited for the gun to sound and off we went.  I took off on my own.  I may run with them during the week, but I like to race alone.  My goal was to finish in 1:15, which would be a 7:30 pace.  This course sticks to mostly dirt and gravel roads with lots and lots of hills.  Definitely a great work out!  I kept leap frogging this younger woman.  She would kick my ass on the up hill but I passed her every time on the down hill and flat ground.  About 2 miles left to go, she passed me one last time and I never did catch her.  I tried.  Afterwards I thanked her for the push.  I ended up crossing the finish line in 1:17:05 with a 7:43 pace.  Good enough for a 3rd place finish in my age group but 2 minutes off my goal.  I looked up the results of the woman I ran with and she finished in 1:17:10.  So although I had not caught her in the end, I ran the course 5 seconds faster.  Feels good to know this 32 (almost 33) year old body can take on a young woman who is 23 years old! 

Official Results;
Time; 1:17:05
Pace; 7:43
AG place; 3rd/22

long run fail and bladder issues

Today's long run of 14 miles was a big fat fail! I really do not understand what is going on with me. I let the heat, sun and my head get to me. I bailed and only ran 10.02 miles. I can't be doing this with only 11 weeks left in my training. At this rate, not only will I not meet my goal, I doubt I will even finish faster then my previous time. Somethings got to give.

I already knew this week was going to be rough getting in all mileage due to being sick, but I had really hoped I could do it. I guess there is still time to do so. Its only 3:45pm. I could head back out for a few more later this evening.

And on to my bladder issues. Let me warn you, this is a total TMI!

I peed my pants on my run today. Not once, but twice. WTF?? Seriously, I couldn't stop it either. I was running along and had to stop at a light to cross the street and it was there that it happened. I began to pee. I tried to stop but it just kept coming out. We are talking full on wet shorts and trickling down my legs! This is totally gross and not right. I need to figure out why this happened and how to make sure it doesn't happen again!! Its not comfortable running with the crotch of your shorts wet and passing buy people hoping that you do not smell of urine!

Weekly Exercise

I ran my longest run and total mileage for this year. We are still in January but that's ok. it will only go up from here! Half training starts Monday, February 1st!

Here is how last week went.

Monday: 45 minutes of intervals on the AMT 20% & 6%
Tuesday: 5.01 mile run outside
Wednesday: upper body weights, legs, push ups
Thursday: 6.1 mile run outside
Friday: 2.5 hours of cleaning house, yes that IS a work out! lol
Saturday: 10.10 mile run outside
Sunday: none

Total Mileage: 21.21 miles
Weight: 117.6lbs

10 mile run follow up

actually it was 10.10 miles, but whose keeping track. oh wait, I am!

I ended up sleeping in later then I have in a long time. Got up around 8:15am, poked my head outside to check the temp, ate a cliff bar & banana, had a few sips of water, got dressed and was out the door around 9am.

It was a little chilly. In fact, I didn't really get warm until I was about 2 miles into the run. I wore a zip up jacket assuming I would end up zipping it half way down or removing it all together. That didn't happen. I wore it the entire time. I was kind of worried I would be over dressed. I had on my under armour l/s top, jacket, under armour tights, under armour headband/ear warmer and my favorite running gloves.

The run went pretty well for being the longest I have done in a few months. I did have pain in my left knee and hip flexor around the 7.5 mile mark, but I dealt with it and pushed on.

I finished in 1:30, which is an 8:54 pace. Not my best time, but I have to remember that I have only been running minimal mileage each week for the past 3 months. That time also included 4 stops to cross major intersections, 1 walk break to eat a Hammer gel (PSA: banana flavor is gross!) and one walk break to grab my fuel belt water bottle that I had dropped.

So overall, I am happy with the outcome. More importantly, I got out there and showed myself that even though running has been put on the back burner, I still have it in me.

Evening long run review- Mental Break down

I thought running 10 miles last night wouldn't be so bad. Boy was I wrong. I had the worst run that I have ever had in my entire life. I don't know what exactly I did wrong either. I tried to keep a slower pace but felt ill almost from the beginning. I almost vomitted 3 times, had goose bumps and chills half way through and even got so bad that I called Chris at mile 7 to come pick me up. Thankfully he was at the grocery store and said it would be a few minutes. I started running after I got off the phone and mentally prepared myself to finish this run! I called him back and told him not to come get me. I wanted to finish. and I did. I reset my watch because I did not want to know my pace. Not after the numerous stops to walk. I NEVER stop to walk. So this was really hard for me to deal with and really showed how bad I felt. But again, I finished and this run is behind. I know this will happen again. Everyone has a bad run. But never have I ever even thought about quitting and having someone come get me. I had a mental break down. I told myself I couldn't do it and it got to me. I am so glad I found it in me to push those thought aside and finish.

Time to move on and continue with training.

I can do this. I can do this.

first evening long run

Today I will be running 10 miles after work. I am going to be in Chicago for a bachelorette party this weekend and need to get my long run in. usually I do my long runs first thing in the morning when I feel the freshest...not today. I hope it isn't too rough on me!!

Day 6 & 7 - Week 4

Saturday was day 6 and was supposed to be a 10 mile run. It was stroming Saturday morning so I began cleaning house and ended up not finishing until 11:30am. So I went to the gym with the hubby and spent 35 minutes on the elliptical doing intervals and strength trained my back and abs.

Sunday I woke up early and headed out for my 10 miler. I felt great through out the entire run. I could have kept going, but since I already added on an additional mile (Hal had me running 9 miles) I decided not to.

I have found that I feel so much better running in the morning versus the evening. I wish I could make myself wake up early during the week and head out for my runs before work. I really want to give it a shot, but I also enjoy my sleep. I'm torn. I am going to try to set my alarm to run one morning this week. Wish me luck.