One Hurdle Cleared!!

Well, this passed weekend was the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon. I completed this race last year as the first half marathon I've ever done and was very happy with my finishing time of 1:44:36. I planned to run the half again and so I did the Baltimore Half Marathon last October. To my disdain, I ran a 1:46 something and was distraught... yes the course was more challenging, but I had thought I would have better my first time because I was more experienced in what it feels like to run 13.1 miles. It was then, that I decided I would train specifically to run the 2010 MCHHM to hit a goal of beating last year's 1:44 time and run a more consistent thought out pace and race.

With all of the snow and bad weather this passed winter and into early spring, I felt like I had lost track of time and training and was a little bit worried. So, I took my races in early spring and summer pretty serious and competitively... someone actually told me I was too competitive, that they just run for fun. I said that while I love just going out for a run to clear my head and feel good about my athleticism; its the drive to better a time, to beat that next person, or to win an award is what drives me in the race and knowing I have a race helps me to get out at 7:45 on a rainy day and run 8 miles... but, hey, I tend to get a little touchy when people say I take running too seriously -- But I digress. So I don't exactly know why I was really nervous. Every race I ran this year was better than the last and my goal at this point was not only to beat last year's time, but instead to run a 1:42 (7:45 min/mi pace). The thing that was bothering me though was that I felt that my training sessions hadn't been going too well lately and I was worried that maybe I had hit my peak too early.

So here I am, race day. I didn't sleep that well the night before, I was running a little late, and I had, my lovely boyfriend G, and Alex and Stix from the BSPT all there to support me (which tends to make me more nervous). The place was a mad house and so I jog around the finish line areas a few times and stretched while in line for various things and only made it to me starting around about 50 seconds before the gun! But ya know what, after all of that, I ran a 1:40:47! Bettering my last Half by 6 minutes and a PR by 4 minutes!!! The weather was fabulous (overcast and in the mid 60s) and I felt strong and smooth the entire run! (Ok maybe not the last 2 or 3 miles). I tried to follow my plan and ran a little inconsistent, but pretty darn smart. I started out fast and held on for the first few miles, running a 22 minutes 5K, then slowed a little to a competitive 46min 10K and next few miles, then slowed a little at mi 10, 11 is a horrible mile long hill and my WORST split, then 12 was an attempt to get back on track while still up a gradual incline, and finally 13 was as much as I could keep giving. Overall I was 12th Age group, 30th female (out of 2684), and 252nd (5422 finishers). And I had an awesome cheering squad biking along next to me and waiting for me at the finish, which was a really special feeling!

Now that I have finished a few races and had some GREAT results, I'm feeling quite confident in my capability to train hard and run well, and that maybe this is my prime competing time and I better take advantage of it! (but hey, I'll probably get nervous at the next big race again.) I once read a quote in Running Times that said not to let one bad work out effect your whole mental state. And I guess I need to work at that a little more. So what's next? Well, some well deserved time off first --- but by "time off", anyone that knows me well knows that I will still run, go to BodyCombat at Golds Gym and hopefully start cycling with some of the team members. Because I learned that cross training has definitely helped my strength and toning and over power.
But for now, I don't exactly want to think that far ahead. I'd like to enjoy a little bit of time off and rest my knee and achilles/calf that have been nagging me a little. However, I will try and keep the updates rolling in here and there so that I don't have to summarize 5 months into one!

besos for now!

MJ

Early Season Schedule

(Ok, so I know I am a little late on this blogging thing. But, I've been busy. So below is the 'Note' I had on facebook about my tentative race schedule from Jan-May and results as they came in up to April)

So its my favorite time of year. Thats right, its multi sport season and its been coming up fast and furiously with the eradic weather we've been having in Virgina. This year I am proud to be part of the Bike Stop Pro Team , competing at the Sport level for the newly added running division. I'm excited to be part of a team again and surrounded by fellow fitness enthusiasts, as well as help with the marketing and outreach to secure some great new sponsors and bring the Bike Stop Pro Team name out into the community. Thus far I have been training hard (well as hard as I could with some of the wacky weather) since Decemeber and have been running races to check by progress along the way.... many of the races were not during the BSPT official race season, but that's understandable since road and trail races for runners exist all year long basically. Below are the results and little comments on each race I've done leading up to goal of running the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon on May 16th, 2010, and then a few optional races I have looked at so far for the summer. Though I will probably take May and part of June eary before I start pounding out the miles for the Baltimore Half in October.

Jan
9- Culpeper (postponed) NYE race, Culpeper VA - 1st female, 24 minutes. It was a really cold & windy day, I have to admit its one of my worst 5K times, but it was about 1/4 mi long and hey, its been snowing!

March
7 - John Robbins 8km - Fredericksburg, VA 8am - 1st in age group, 49th of 239, 35:46 - 7:12 pace and really consistent splits. I felt really good in this race, strong and confident of my run.
21 - Molly's Irish Pub Wearin of the Green 5K - Warrenton, VA - 1st female, 18th out of 339, 21:19 - 6:53 pace -- that's a new 5K PR! (Well I actually ran a high 19 min once, but it was basically flat to downhill, so I don't count that :) )

April
3 - Scotland 10K Run - Central Park, NYC - 45:36, PR for my 10k!! 972nd place or something out of about 9000 people in the race, CRAZYNESS!

May
16th - Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon, Fredericksburg Va. -- last year I ran a 1:44:36 as my first HM ever
31st - Civitans 10K - Fredericksburg, VA -- I've got to defend my division title from last year!

June
19 -Colonial 10K - Virginia Beach, 7:30pm

July
3rd - Culpeper Freedom 5K (I didn't do too well in this last year, especially because I wasn't training very much at the time, so I'd like to run a strong time locally).

I'll add more to them as I come across them, jump in some spur of the moment, and of course when I start buckling down for the Baltimore Half Marathon again in October and need to run some 5, 10 and whatver Ks in preparation. But for now, thanks for all the support so far and continue to press on yourselves!
MJ

Scotland comes to NYC!

BSPT’s first team distance runner and Marketing/Outreach Coordinator, Miranda “MJ” Forte, kicked-off the 2010 team season in New York City at the “Homecoming Scotland” 10k on Sunday, April 3. Posting a PR of 45:30 for the 6.2 mile run, Miranda finished in the top 1000 overall (out of over 9,000 athletes), 125th female, and 42nd in her division.

This is Miranda’s 4th race this year, participating in 3 additional pre-season competitions prior to this weekend in New York City. She began the year, placing 1st female overall in Culpeper’s local New Year’s Day 5k. Two months later on March 3, Miranda competed in the John Robbins 8K in Fredericksburg, placing 1st in her division; this was followed by the Molly’s Irish Pub “Wearin of the Green” 5K on March 21 with yet another 1st overall female finish and a PR time of 21:19 for the 3.1 mile race.