Phoenix Marathon 2013 - Kristin

Aww, the Phoenix marathon.  I had been looking forward to this one for a while.  After all, without sticking to my training plans for my past few marathons, I had beat my time each consecutive marathon, and since my last (not counting Ironman) was 4:00:15, I was sure to FINALLY be under that 4:00 mark!  And especially coming off of Ironman?  I was sure it was in the bag.

Then I got lazy.

I started getting serious about long runs with the help of my friend Marie (picture below on the left).  This was to be her first marathon, and she was also hoping to come in under 4:00, so I begged her to let me tag along for her long runs.

But my mid week runs were pathetic.  It was so hard to get out of bed, and I was just feeling slow and heavy.  I figured it was due to a busy semester, and the stress of moving.

Come to find out...

I'M PREGNANT!!!

Well come hell or high water, I was going to run this marathon.

 I was so excited to run this.  A marathon in MY town, where I'd run by MY (old) house, and MY highschool, with lots of MY friends.  

 To avoid the super early wake up call, and having to sit on a bus, I had a friend drop Marie and I off at the start.  Sure the race directions said this was not allowed, but we risked it, and it paid off!

We were dropped right at the start just 15 minutes before the gun went off.  Just in time to use the porta potty and take some quick pics.  Perfect.

It started off great!  It was cool, but not cold.  Perfect running weather.

The start of the race is down hill and fast.  I loved it!  

We were maintaining our pace, and I felt great!  

At the half way mark, we were at 1:55, and I felt like I had tons left to give.  But Marie's quads were hurting from the down hill start, and so we split at the half.  

At 19, I was starting to feel the tired feeling I usually feel around 22.  :(

But I was still with the 3:45 pace group, and I felt like I could hold it.

But then at 21 I had the burps that turned into the pukes.  

I stopped and puked, and caught my breath as I watched the 3:45 group move on.

I walked for a while.  Then when the 3:50 group came, I started running again.

Puke, walk, repeat.

I tried so hard to stay with the 4:00 group.  Because then I could just pour it on that last little bit and beat 4:00 right?

No.  They left me in the dust too.

I was just about resigned to walking the rest of the way when my friend Mark (my first boyfriend, ha!) was walking back along the course.  He did the half in 1:30, and had been running people in.  So he started running and talking with me.  I was too embarrassed to tell him I really wanted to walk, so I dug deep and ran the last mile in at a great pace!  I was surprised I could pull it off!

There I am, running in to the finish, after high fiving just about everyone in the crowd.  I was so happy to be finished, and I usually see that as taking more time than just sprinting in to the finish, but my time goal was gone, so I didn't care.  It was fun!

4:08:44

So what's next?

Ironman St. George 70.3

I need to get back on the bike, and pray my wet suit will fit!

No time goals, I just want to finish.

Utah Valley Marathon

Too often, I find myself on race day asking myself why i didn't follow my training plan better.  This was no different.  Unfortunately I didn't get in any of the 5 20 milers that my training schedule planned for me to run.  The longest run I had was 15.5 miles, and had just about stopped all together doing the track work outs once it started to get warm.

So I changed my goals.  I let the dream of qualifying for Boston fly out the window fast, and changed it to a realistic time of under 4:00.

So race day, I was not too sure how I'd do at the elevation (it started at 6,000 ft), and a storm was blowing in that day.  So while we didn't get the clouds or rain, we definitely had the winds.  Strong head winds the whole time!!

But I ran hard.  I've never run a marathon this hard before.  I HAD to get in under 4:00.

1. 8:37
2. 8:21
3. 8:27
4. 8:35
5. 8:29
6. 8:46
7. 8:40
8. 9:26 started climbing the first big hill - I for sure felt the elevation here!
9. 9:33
10. 8:50
11. 9:00
12. 9:32
13. 9:26  I check my watch and see that I have 2:03 to finish under 4:00.  I can do this!
14. 9:26
15. 9:05
16. 9:27
17. 9:48  crud, I better speed up!
18. 9:28
19. 9:17
20. 9:47  I check my watch, I have exactly 60 minutes to run a 10k, no prob.  This is happening!!
21. 9:16  I'm finally out of the canyon and get to see my family cheering me on!  This was a boost I needed a long time ago.  Drake ran with me for a little bit.  
22. 9:24
23. 9:23  Check my watch.  30 minutes to do 3.2.  Crud, I need to keep my pace at 9:15 until the end and it's getting hot and hard!
24. 9:59  I was feeling the throw up burps.  I had to stop for 10 seconds and get my breathing right again.  Oh no!  That's time I'll have to make up!
25. 9:36  I kept telling myself I can pour it on, do it, you can run fast!  And then I'd slow back down again.  
26. 9:33  I passed the 26th mile at 3:59:48.  .2 miles to go.  
27. 2:18  I finished at 4:02:06.  I didn't make my goal :( but still PR'd!  :)  

It was bittersweet, and I'll blame it on the headwinds.  I need some excuse, right?

 I've never been so sore after a marathon.

And now I'm tired of running and really need to get to work on my bike and swim!

I've kind of forgotten that I'm supposed to be training for an IRONMAN!!!

But when we got home from Utah, this was in the mail:

What a surprise!

And I sure hope there were more than 2 females doing the 28 mile event.

But I'll take it!

P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Full Marathon

Adam and I at race start

So, Kate updated you all on the 1/2, and I thought I would post an update of the full marathon.  This was my second full marathon and I have to say that it went much better than my first!  My husband, Adam, agreed to run it with me.  Adam is not a runner.  He's a soccer player and he started a new job last year so training didn't really happen.  As a result, we decided to do a 5-2 minute run/walk pattern. 

The race started about a half hour late (apparently the changes to the course and reliance on the light rail made it hard for everyone to get to the start line).  Adam and I got off to a good start.  I made sure that we strictly follow our run/walk pattern.  I was feeling great.  Around mile 11, Adam started flagging.  Our run pace was starting to slow and our walk section took a little longer to end.  I ended up getting a few minutes ahead of Adam by the 13.1 mile mark.  So, when he caught up to me at that point--he told me to go ahead and so I did (I felt a bit like a bad wife at that point).

The second half of the race continued to go well for me.  I felt really good until about mile 22.  I ran in some new compression socks and they really seemed to help keep my legs fresh and free from cramping (I usually cramp up around mile 10 in a half marathon).  At that point, my feet were really tired and I started slowing down.  I kept up with the 5-2 pattern and I finished strong.  After I collected my stuff, I went back up the course to find Adam.  Once I found him, I helped him run/walk him in the last mile to the finish--that's right I ran/walked an extra two miles (I felt like a much better wife at that point)!


I finished in 5:17 and I really think I could improve on that time (though my time on Sunday was nearly a full 30 minutes faster than my first marathon). More importantly, I wasn't freaking out about the race.  I was calm and I had no doubt that I would finish. 

I haven't really been training for the full marathon distance.  I ran a half in December and a 10k on January 1, but nothing longer.  I really don't think that running the distance is as important as doing consistent cardio and strength training. 

I also think that I will be able to finish the marathon at the end of the Ironman with at least a little bit of running.  Now, I just need to get a century ride in so that I can really get a feel for being on the bike that long. 


Next up--Ragnar in February and the Phoenix 1/2 marathon in March!