Chicago Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon

It wasn't pretty, but it got done!  It's been a long time since we've had any activity on this blog.  The other Ironmoms and I have been a bit out of touch with the racing scene (I think I can safely say that for all of us!).

I had a long winter--some injuries and other things got in the way of training and racing.  And, general dislike for training kept me from getting up and getting things done in terms of racing.  As a result, I was less than prepared for the Chicago Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon.

The day prior to the race I was in Minneapolis where I ran/walked the Bacon Chase 5k with friends (it was a fun race--I recommend it!).  Then, I hopped a plane and arrived in Chicago.  After surviving the chaos that is a Rock 'n' Roll race expo, I had my packet and set out for a lovely evening hanging out with a friend in Chicago.  All the while, I had this dread hanging over my head--I knew this race was going to be painful.
 
If I am being 100% honest, the last time I really ran was back in November for the Women's 1/2 Marathon.  I had done some short distances since then, but nothing consistent or really much more than 3-5 miles at a time.  Once the hot weather hit in Phoenix, I did ZERO running (or biking for that matter).  I decided that I would use a walk-run interval to survive the Chicago race and held to it for the first half...then my walk intervals got longer...then my run intervals got shorter.  Finally, for miles 11 & 12, I think (I know) I walked more than I ran.

I finished and could feel my lack of training in just about every part of my body.  I vowed to start training for my October/November half marathons (4 half marathons in 6 weeks).  Here it is, August, and the training has not really started...yet.  So, here I am back on the blog and committing to getting trained for those races!!

If you're curious about how I handled the incredible muscle soreness following the race, check out my other blog (Oil Have What She's Having) where I talked about that.  oilhabit.com/2014/07/sore-muscles-aroma-siez/

Happy racing (and training!!) everyone!

It's been a really long time!

Elliot and Mom after the Mesa Tri

Wow, it's been so long since any of us Ironmoms have been on the blog to update about our races and training.  I guess that this year has been more about being moms and less about being Iron.  :)  I was at IMAZ 2013 this weekend and I couldn't believe that a year ago I was out there racing.  I volunteered to help--mostly because I know how much those volunteers mean to the racers on that long day.  Also, I had some friends racing and I wanted to be sure to support them.  I can't say I missed racing.  It was great to be around the energy and excitement without the stress and the long hours of training that go along with racing.  I saw fellow Ironmom Kristin while volunteering.  She had baby Eden with her and looked awesome.

Women's Half Marathon

Meanwhile, I have done tons of races!!  So many, that I can hardly remember all of them.  Since the last update--SW Valley tri, Marquee tri, Espirit de She tri, Tempe International Tri, MedCity Marathon Relay, Minneapolis Marathon, Timberman tri, Waseca tri, Skirt Chaser 5k, Cheese Fest 5k, Peoria tri, Mesa tri, Nathan's/Lifetime tri, the Women's Half Marathon, the Ridiculous Obstacle Challenge, and even a virtual marathon.  I think that's all of them.

Truth be told, I think I am a little burnt out on racing.  Completing the Ironman gave me sort of a bad attitude about training.  I tend to have the "I finished an Ironman, so how hard can this ____ race be?" mentality about everything.  As a result, I haven't really been enjoying the races nearly as much (because I have not been training for them).  The ones that I have enjoyed have been the ones I've gotten to do with friends (which are always the best ones anyway!!).

Jessie and I at the Timberman Tri

I only have a few races scheduled in the coming months.  Elliot and I are going to do a Thanksgiving tri, I am doing the Hot Chocolate 5k again, the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona 1/2 Marathon, the Awesome 80's run and the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Marathon.  And, that's all I have planned for now.  I am going to focus on having more fun with races and doing races in more interesting locales (I've had about all I can take of the area around Tempe Town Lake for now!).  

Katie, Jen, and I at the SkirtChaser

At the Mesa tri a few weeks ago, a woman asked me if I was an Ironmom from the blog.  She was really sweet and encouraging.  I am glad people are still interested in the blog and I will be better about updating about races and training.  I hope my other Ironmoms will join me.  :)

As for training, I have really started to mix things up since IMAZ last year.  I found a dance studio where I could take tap classes (which I did when I lived in MN and have missed since moving to AZ).  It's been so fun.  Also, I have been trying out different classes at the gym to make up for the significant decrease in running, biking, and swimming I have had since IMAZ.  

Happy training everyone!

Tap!!!

Awesome 80's 10k and Rock 'n' Roll Half

Wow, 2013 is taking off fast!  I am already two races behind on my updates.  I ran the Awesome 80's 10k on January 12th and it was, as advertised, awesome!  I convinced my husband to run the race with me and he, in typical Adam fashion, did no training for the race, but was ready to go and run anyway on race day. 

Awesome 80's!

It was a cold morning--very cold by Arizona standards, but it felt very nice to be running in it after things got started.  The race was relatively small, which was great.  There wasn't a mad rush to pick up race numbers on race morning and the crowd at the starting line was very manageable even though both the 10k and 5k started at the same time and ran the same course. 

The course was flat and easy.  The 10k was two loops of the 5k course.  Adam kept pushing the pace with this long legs and we finished in 1:00.48--a PR for me.  It was a good run and I felt great afterwards.  I would highly recommend this case in the future--it was fun and relaxed.  My only hesitation in recommending it is that if more people sign up in the future it may get too crazy and crowded.  :)

This past Sunday I ran the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon.  It was my 4th time running one of the P.F. Chang's races--my third time running the 1/2.  I wasn't really excited to run this race again because it has gotten increasingly more crowded and crazy each year, but I wanted to try the newly revamped 1/2 course, so I sucked it up and signed up. 

The girls were ready to rock!

As it is every year, the expo was a madhouse.  I had signed the girls up for the kid's run on Saturday, so I had to go on Friday after work so I got the double whammy of expo insanity and downtown traffic.  The girls had a blast at the kids' run--lots of entertainment and nice, fun running experience.  I would sign them up for this again in the future. 

For my race, things were a little more hectic and rushed.  Adam and the girls dropped me off at the starting line, which was nice because parking looked like a nightmare.  I arrived around 7:15 at the starting area.  The race was scheduled to start at 7:50 so I had plenty of time to use the port-a-potty and get set...or so I thought.  The first thing I did was jump in the port-a-potty line...which was pretty much the whole pre-race time period.  Just after I stepped out of the port-a-potty, they started the National Anthem and then the race. 


I usually like to eat an energy bar or something before the race and I had brought some salt sticks to use as well, but I didn't have water with me (there's usually plenty at the start).  I didn't have time to look for water, so I figured I'd just take the first salt stick at the first water break, which is usually just after the first mile.  I was in corral 9 and we started about 12 minutes after the first corral, which made me wish I had looked for water and then just got back in the corral, but oh well. 

Another RNR Down!

Things started out well.  I was maintaining a pace that felt comfortable and was on par with what I had run the Awesome 80's 10k.  Around mile 7, I started to get hot and very thirsty.  I was anxiously looking for the next water stop around every corner.  When I finally got there, I took my salt stick and ate a bit of my power bar.  I think I ate the power bar too late in the race, because from mile 8 to the finish I just kept fading.  I was tired and my feet were super hot.  I had debated between running my Newtons (which I'd worn for the 80's run) and my old Brooks and went with the Brooks since I was still worried about the lack of distance I'd run in the Newtons.  I should have worn the Newtons. 

Also, I think the hills in the 2nd half of the course really took a toll on me.  No doubt about it, I was under trained for the race.  Reflecting back--the only real running I've done since IM have been a 5k in December and 2 10ks in January...so that shouldn't have surprised me. All in all, the Rock 'n' Roll race series is getting a bit tiresome.  The races have been really crowded and the expo is always a huge ordeal.  And, there's nothing that exciting about the races (other than the cool medals) after you've done a couple.  The race fees are always really high too...so this might be my last RNR for awhile. 

I will definitely be getting more miles in before Ragnar in February!!  I also need to get back on my bike, though I have been less than excited about that prospect since IM.  I am hoping Kate and Annette share their adventures/misadventures on getting back on the bike yesterday. 

Next up:  Runner's Den Road Races in Feb.