First back to back-ers...

About 2 weeks after my last post, I completed back to back half marathons - the Indy Mini in Indianapolis and the Flying Pig in Cincinnati. It was my first time doing both races.

While I have nothing against the organizers of the Indy race (they actually do an excellent job considering the 40,000+ people that run the race each year!), I have to say I did not come out a fan. Yes, doing a lap on the Indianapolis Speedway (where the Indy 500 is run) is pretty cool..but the routes that you need to take to get there and back? Not very terribly appealing, to say the least. I'm a pretty visual person when it comes to races; I like to have things to look at. Running through miles of run-down, boarded up and abandoned homes is not my idea of a fun time. Now granted, my experience may be somewhat tainted by my spectacular bonk less than halfway through the race...but not that much. After the first 4 or 5 miles, I was feeling really good and was having visions of a 10-15 minute PR. Then it was as if someone had just flipped a switch and zzzzzzaaaaaaaapppp... gone. Started feeling very hot and tired and the race could not end soon enough. I did PR by about 3 minutes but I was not pleased by that. I wanted more. After the race, I felt just AWFUL..not sore or anything like that, but SO tired that I could barely remain seated or awake and dinner. Getting into or out of a car was torture and I felt like I could sleep for days.

That did not bode well for the challenging, hilly Pig in Cincinnati the next day. All the way up to the starting line, I was worried that each step would be absolute torture. That I'd wish for a quick death. Shockingly none of the above happened?! I was as surprised as anyone. Maybe it's because I didn't feel the pressure to go all out due to the combination of being intimidated by the challenging course and racing the previous day. This was just for fun, for the experience. I loved this race. I stuck with a similarly-paced runner from the club that was doing the full until the courses split. She always helps me to run smart, though I really need to learn how to do that on my own and not rely on others. I thought the course was really quite nice - and I've got to say that the 'worst' neighborhood we ran through in Cincy was still better than the best neighborhood we experienced in Indy. I would do this race again in a heartbeat. They have a fantastic expo, awesome goodie bag (where else do you get a t-shirt, poster AND messenger/duffle bag for free with your entry???), and the atmosphere was just fantastic. Oddly enough, this year's Flying Pig coincided with the swine flu outbreak, so there was ample opportunity for silliness. I think the "Swine Cru" runners took the cake in that respect.. although my absolute favorite reference I saw during the race were the runners I saw in the "NOTORIOUS P.I.G." shirts. I was sure to work my way clear across the road so that I could convey to the people wearing them the degree of their awesomeness.

Next up? The inaugural Stillwater half this weekend and in a month, SEATTLE HERE I COME! Woohoo!

Did it!

Managed to finish in 29:44 even though the course measured almost a full tenth long. Just so relieved to finally have this behind me. Today was the first day where I lined up at the start thinking not that under 30 could happen, but that it should happen - and if it didn't, I was going to consider today a big giant FAIL.

Glad that didn't happen. :-)

This time next week....

..I hope to be here blogging about my first sub-30:00 5k. Yes, I know that probably 80-90% of the running world already has one of those - but not me! I'm slow, what can I say? Anyway, I came close several times last summer. My current 5k PR is 30:23. I have done a few races this year that were longer and much hillier than next Sunday's 5k will be, and I've averaged just over 10:00/mi in those. I'm hoping I can pull off a few 9:35s next week.

Part of today's interval workout was 2x 2 miles at interval pace (9:45ish) and I did manage to get all 4 miles to come in under 10:00. I think I can do it, my friends know I can do it. I am trying not to get overconfident and just assume it's going to happen because I would be looking at a major letdown if it doesn't.

Pedal to the metal

The spring racing season has started in Minnesota. I've done 2 races so far, an 8k last Sunday and a 7 mile hilly mofo today. Managed to finish both races in under 11:00/mile pace, which is big for me (10:05 for the 8k, 10:50 for the 7 miler). My goals in both races were to beat last year's times and I was successful in both tries by several minutes. :-) My additional goals for today's race were to not be DFL and to make it in before they take the finish line down; the group who puts on the race is NOTORIOUS for doing that, there are ALWAYS people still on the courses of their races who come in to find the finish line taken down and do not get official times. And I'm not talking about walkers here, I'm talking 11:30-12:00/mile runners. I'm happy to report success squared.

Anyway, the season is off to a promising start and I'm excited about what's to come.

Wooot...

..to the big scary thing looming out there..

Congratulations! You are entered to run in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 11, 2009. The Marathon will take place at 7:30 a.m. in Grant Park, Chicago. For additional Race details visit chicagomarathon.com.

In a week...

...I register for my second full marathon. Woohoo!

Edited to add: Registration = $125!? Seriously?? Nike Women's was less than that, and I don't think there's anything from Tiffany's waiting for you at the Chicago finish line. Good god.

Goals for 2009

Time to get back in the swing of things. I have slacked BIGTIME since the marathon in October. Within a few days of coming back, we turned the clocks back and it would be pitch black when I left work. I always struggle during that time of year anyway but it just seemed to take an extra hard toll this year. All I would want to do each day is leave work, get home, take a bath and go to bed. Time to snap out of it!

Here are my goals & plans for the coming year:

a sub-30:00 5k
a sub-2:25 half marathon
a sub-5:30 full
1200 miles in 2009

Indy Mini/Flying Pig weekend
Rock N Roll Seattle (99.9% sure that I'll sign up for the half, not the full)
fall full marathon
hopefully a local duathlon or two now that I own a bike

For the second straight year, I started off the new year by taking a polar bear plunge into Lake Minnetonka. If that doesn't get your blood pumping, nothing will!

KARE11 story
KARE11 video
WCCO video