2013 Race Schedule

Like most runners I know, as soon as the year starts winding down we start focusing on the next year.  I've set myself up for some pretty lofty goals/difficult races.  Here's what I have so far:

February 10, 2012: Riverview Winter Fest 4 miler - must beat last years time and try to meet 2010's time of 28 minutes.

March 24, 2012: Rock CF Half Marathon - goal is to run a 1:35 or faster.

April 15, 2013: Boston Marathon!!! - just enjoy the race and experience of the Boston marathon, but make sure I at least run it in under 4 hours.  I've never seen a 4 hour marathon, so why start now?  :-)

April 27, 2013: Running Fit's Trail Half Marathon - I love this event but missed it last year since I was pregnant and trail running at that point was out of the question.  2 hours or better.

May 5, 2013: Pittsburgh Marathon - enjoy the hill course and first time running this event.  Again, run under 4 hours and push hard if fully recovered from Boston.  This course is very hilly!

June 9, 2013: Ann Arbor Marathon - just to run 3 marathons in 3 months.  If feeling good, try to push for a 3:30-3:35.  another hilly course.

July 2013: ?

August 24, 2013: North Country Trail Marathon - training run for my 50 miler in September.

September 7, 2013: Run Woodstock 50 miler - my first 50 miler.  No goal but to finish!!

October 20, 2012: Detroit Marathon - its on my birthday so I have to run it.  depending on how the 50 miler goes, shooting for 3:35 for my 35th birthday OR sub 4 hours and run an extra 8.8 after to make it an even 35 miles on my 35th birthday.

November 2013: ?

December 2013: ?

So there you have it.  Looks pretty intense and insane now that I have it written down.  I am so ready to tackle these events.  I love long distance running and all the training that goes into it.  I am sure I will throw in a few other events, but these are my MUST run for 2013.

Detroit Turkey Trot 10K results

Finish Time: 45:52
Pace: 7:22
Place: 9th out of 592 in age group

Good for a new 10K PR.  Not all that fast, but I can literally count on one hand how many 10K's I have ran in the past few years.  They are clearly not my favorite distance.  I prefer half marathons or longer and avoid 5K's and 10K's because they hurt. lol!  I used the turkey trot as my speedwork for the week. 

If you want to read a great review on the race, check out Detroit Runner's review.  I know this race is more of a family fun run but still.  The finish area was a cluster!  I hope they make some changes for next years event.  I have run this for the past 6 years but will consider not running it again if they do not make some changes. 

Mezamashii Run Project

I finally received my shoes from Mizuno Mezamashii Run Project.  Since my feet are long and narrow (I run in a 9.5 2A) and I require a support shoe, I chose the Mizuno Wave Inspire 8's.  They were on back order and to my surprise, I received the 9's!  Do you have any idea how excited I was when I opened the box and saw the color of these shoes?  I had just commented to my husband (after seeing them in the RR sports catalog) how I would love if these are the ones I receive.  With my narrow feet, it seems like the shoes that come in widths are boring colors.  All my Brooks are white base w/ blue trim.  So to have a pair of narrow width running shoes in bright colors makes me so happy!!

I ran 5.25 miles in them this morning and so far they feel good.  There is one issue, but I am going to hold off on commenting on it just to see if it works itself out.  I've been running in Brooks for years so it may just be that I am adjusting to a different brand. 

Expect a full review of this shoe once I get some more miles in them.  I'll leave you with a few photos.

Grand Rapids marathon review

On October 21st, I ran my 5th marathon; the Grand Rapids marathon.   I ran this with my dad and 2 of our running friends Mike and Dave. I often refer to these 3 as "my 3 dads". 

I really wanted to get a marathon in this year/post pregnancy before Boston in April and our friend Dave was trying to qualify for Boston.  We chose GR due to the smaller race field and hometown feel.  Please Dave has ran this course before and really enjoyed it.  My birthday was October 20th so what better way to celebrate than to run a marathon!

I headed out to Grand Rapids with my dad, step mom, son and infant daughter on Saturday.  We went straight to the expo/packet pick up which was located at the local YMCA.  I admired the Y.  Much larger than the one I go to.  They have 3 levels and the expo was held on the 3rd level of the facility.  It was a small expo, but still had some nice vendors.  When I finally made my way back to the packet pick up, I was surprised to find that my race number was 34.  That is how old I had turned that day.  Nothing like being bib #34 on my 34th birthday. 

Anna w/ mommy's bib number

 

 

After the expo we checked into our hotel.  We stayed a few miles from the start in Grandville.  It was very convenient being right off the highway.  it took us about 10 minutes to get there.  We relaxed at our hotel until then evening and met Dave & Mike at Olive Garden for pasta.   Once dinner was over we headed back to the hotel to lay out our race gear and get some rest.

 

Sunday morning came quickly.  I was up early to pump (sorry guys).  We dressed, had coffee & pancakes in the hotel lobby/cafe and was out the door by 7am.  This was probably one of the easiest races to get to and park at.  We were parked on the first floor of the structure, 2 spots from the entrance.  We had a short walk to the start/finish area.  We hit the porto potties, walked over the the start line and by 8am we were off. 

 

The course was nice.  Definitely a small town feel but those that were out were so supportive.  The course offered an abundance of water/Gatorade stations and I believe they were handing out Gu at 4 spots!  The most Gu hand outs I have ever received at a marathon before was 2.   I was feeling really good and on pace to run a 3:35.  Then came mile 19 and I started to get sore and sluggish.  I kept pushing on but it was mentally tough.  Mike was struggling and had dropped back at about mile 17.  My dad and Dave passed me up at about mile 21.  I kept them in my site the last 5 miles and crossed the finish line 39 seconds behind them.  They finished in 3:38:23 and I finished in 3:39:02.  Mike finished in 3:49:59.  All 4 of us BQ-ed!! 

 



 

dad, me, Dave & Mike

 

I was really impressed with the finish line food.  Water, Muscle Milk, ice cream, chips, bagels, banana, oranges, pickles.  I drank a Muscle Milk light but didn't want anything else.  My legs were cramping and when they cramp after a marathon, I get nauseous.  Very strange, I know.  I also got to see Jeff at the finish line.  it was great to see him and be able to chat about how each others races went. 

 

Overall I am pleased with the marathon.  Was it the 3:35 I had hoped for?  no.  But I would say that running a 3:39 4.5 months after giving birth isn't so bad.  It's also my 2nd fastest marathon to date.   

 

Official Results:

Time: 3:39:02

Pace: 8:22

Age Group Place: 18/101

Overall: 62/1586

 

 





GR Marathon Results

3:39:02, 8:22 pace = a BQ for Boston 2014!!

full report to come sometime this week.

Brooksie Way Half Marathon results & review

Sunday, September 30th, was the 5th running of the Brooksie Way half marathon & 5K.  I had signed myself and Chris up a few months back.  It would have been his first "official" half marathon.  Yes, he did run Rock CF half with me, but I was 30 weeks pregnant and there wasn't much "racing" going on. 

I told him going into this race that I refused to let him beat me.  he beat me in August at an extremely hilly 10 mile race and I refuse to let him beat me again.  I am competitive with my husband when it comes to running.  He runs for cardio only and focuses more on strength training.  So when he beat me in August, I was going to make sure it was the first and last time he did so.  :-) 

My goal for this half was to finish in 1:40 or better.  I wasn't 100% positive I would actually be able to do it.  The course is not flat by any means and I had just ran an extreme trail 50K the week prior.  Who knows how my legs were going to feel.  They felt good when we started so I figured I would push the pace for as long and as hard as I could.  With all the hills in the last 5-ish miles, I was not sure I would reach my goal. I told myself "running sub-8 minute miles in my first half marathon since giving birth on June 7th was still a great accomplishment" and would be happy with that.  I ended up finishing the half marathon in 1:40:57 with my last mile being my fastest at a 7:07 pace!!  I couldn't believe how great I felt and began questioning if maybe I could have even broke 1:40!  It's not a PR (about 3 minutes off from my PR) but I still consider it a very respectable time.  Chris ended up finishing just behind me in 1:41:53.  Less than a minute, but I still crossed the finish line before him!!  :-) 

Before I met up with him at the finish line, I was able to say a quick hello to Jeff over at Detroit Runner.    We met back in 2011 at the 1st Rock CF half.  If you do not read his blog, you must start NOW!  Not only is this guy a talented runner, but you must read on how he got started in the first place.  Congrats on a speedy finish Jeff!  See you in GR!

I have yet to purchase any photos from the race and not so sure I will.  I look like Shrek in all of them.  I swear, I never take a good race photo!

Official Results:
Time:  1:40:57
Pace:  7:43
Age Group Place:  8th/195
Overall: 270/2776

Dances with Dirt 50K race results and review

Another ultra under my belt!  The weather was cold and wet, just the way Randy Step prefers it. 

The DWD events are such a challenge.  They are not just any trail race.  The course takes you off into the woods, through mud, through various water crossing, up a river, lots of up & down, on to technical trails full or rocks/roots/hills and you have a blast while doing it.

I ran this event last year and had so much fun that I couldn't wait to do it again this year.  I knew it may not happen since I had just given birth in June but signed up anyway hoping I could tough it out.  and tough it out I did.

We started with a group of 8 and finished with a group of 6 (the other 2 finished about 40 minutes after we did).  Having such a fun group to run with not only helped the miles fly by, but it helped me in the end when the last few miles really start to break me down mentally.  We crossed the finish line together in 6 hours 21 minutes and 40 seconds in the pouring cold rain.  5 minutes slow then last years time but that didn't matter.  5 out of 6 of us placed in our age groups!  I placed 2nd out of 8 in mine (30-35).  Our awards were folding camp chairs.  Pretty sweet award if you ask me.  I am disappointed in the shirts this year.  Last years shirt fits so nicely.  This years shirt fits awful and the material seems off. 

Official results:
Time: 6:20:50
Pace: 12:17
Age Group: 2/8
Overall (females): 11/52

Here is a photo of us on the easiest, yet my least favorite part of the race.  it's the gravel "rail trail".  I'd much rather be on the trails in the woods! (I am in the middle w/ the black & orange.  my dad is in the red).