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
