Super Half Marathon (Race Recap)

Sunday, February 3
Colorado Springs, CO
Half Marathon #76
Colorado Half #16
Weather - Chilly but felt warmish with sun

Super Bowl Sunday seems like a GREAT day to run a race, since it is (and always has been) a fun food day for me! The Super Half in Colorado Springs would kill two birds with one stone. Run one of only THREE half marathons that exist in Colorado during the months of December-February, AND of course knock out a half I haven't run before. THANKFULLY, it looked like we were going to have some good weather. (Last year, on this same weekend, we had FEET of snow).

The race didn't start until the ungodly hour of TEN. WHY WHY WHY. The good thing, was that even with a substantial drive, I wouldn't have to get up THAT early. We left the house around 7:20, stopping on the way down to pick up Ruth. We arrived at Dunkin' Donuts for our pre-race fuel with more than an hour before the start. There were some road closures that had us taking a short detour, but we got a free metered spot near packet pick up.

I guess since the race seemed really low key and didn't seem advertised, that I expected a small turnout. Packet pickup was CHAOTIC, but pretty well organized. Picked up our bibs and long sleeve cotton shirts and then headed back in the car to finish our munchkin donut holes. SO DELICIOUS. Headed back over with about 20 minutes until the start to use the bathrooms. Pro: bathrooms were inside where it was warm. Cons: no toilet paper and clogged sinks. Ew. By the time we finished, we walked out right as the national anthem was being sung.

View from the start - Pikes Peak is back there somewhere (aka, I'm the worst Coloradan ever)

Me and L (as matchy matchy as we could get)

I really had no goals for this race. I've been sick with the zombie bird flu plague for over a week. I managed two short runs this week on the treadmill, barely breaking 20 minutes each time at a snail's pace. In addition to being completely exhausted, I've been congested and coughing every 5 minutes. Ok, so I guess my goal was to NOT DIE.

The course started in downtown Colorado Springs and ran briefly on the streets before we ended up on a nice trail. It was wide and dirt packed, and there was not too much congestion. I hadn't done any research on the course, but Ruth claimed there were four aid stations, so we would hit a total of 8 with the course being an out and back.

I wore my gloves for probably the first 15 minutes and then I got too hot and tucked them into my race belt. I was feeling... better than I expected, but not great. First mile would turn out to be our fastest of the day at 10:14 - a pace I have not run in a while (between Disney, the calves and the H1N1 I've had). The course profile showed the first half to be a gradual uphill, so after realizing I probably wasn't going to die on the course, I really just didn't want to walk at all. Had lots of compliments on my awesome INKnBURN shirt and our striped socks. One woman asked if my shirt was from a tattoo place!

I ran with my iPod for the first time since the New Years half marathon and I tried Yurbuds again (yellow ones, direct off the shelf at Target). Happy to report I didn't have any issues with the buds falling out. However, I eventually had to take one out because I could not hear L talking to me, and the bud got stuck in my ear, lol.

I was trying to keep my complaining to a minimum (L would say later that she thinks it was the quietest I had ever been during a race). Honestly, my body felt better than it had in a while, but the fatigue I've had lately had my 11ish paces were feeling SO HARD AND FAST. Blah. I was having minor GI issues, thanks to the seven layer dip I had the night before.

Fueling for this race was gummy bears and Mike & Ike, I didn't even bother with gels this time. Thanks to the Gatorade on the course, I think my candy choice was fine, I didn't feel hungry at all, that was a nice change.

The course was pretty, or at least as pretty as it can be in upper 30 degree weather, in Colorado, when everything is dead:

I was doing pretty well until about mile 11. I should have been having an easier time, with the course being more "downhill" on the way back. I was just so tired and I was having coughing fits more often than I did on the way out. My brain really wanted me to quit, but I just slogged through it and got done. Not a great time, obviously, but considering how under trained and sick I've been, and that there were NO characters to get my picture taken with, this was fine.

Trying the Heisman - is this even close??

Official Time - 2:31:08
Overall Place - 421/481
Gender Place - 205/254
Division Place - 23/31
Mile 1 - 10:14
Mile 2 - 11:16
Mile 3 - 11:25
Mile 4 - 11:44
Mile 5 - 11:50
Mile 6 - 11:14
Mile 7 - 11:54
Mile 8 - 11:15
Mile 9 - 11:05
Mile 10 - 10:57
Mile 11 - 11:47
Mile 12 - 11:04
Mile 13 - 11:25
Mile 13.27 - 11:00

Pros:

• Very well organized, decent-sized race.
• Nice course
• Plenty of aid stations, all but one had Gatorade in addition to water.

Cons:

• I actually have nothing to complain about, although I thought having a cop on a motorcycle following on the heels of the last runner was a bit rude. I felt bad for her. We were on trails, this could have been done on a bike.
• The bathroom situation at pick-up could have been a bit better. The building should have known we were coming and been stocked better with toilet paper.
• Hypothetically, the weather could be crap this time of year. February can be a very cold and snowy month in Colorado. Thankfully, this was not an issue this year!

We stopped for Dunkin' Donuts (just coffee this time around) on our way home, and Five Guys for lunch. Colorado Springs HAS ALL THE BEST PLACES.

Think Pink

Treadmill - Random Hill Programs - Monday, August 23

Anything had to be better than the run yesterday, so I wasn't dreading the treadmill as much as usual. And... with an outfit like this, what's NOT to be happy about??

Have you ever in your life seen so much bright pink in one place? Which leads me to the question of the blog... I've been a gym rat for years... I have nicknames for most of the other regulars. I occasionally wonder what MY name would be. If you saw someone wearing the above attire at the gym (think 24 Hour Fitness), what would YOU call her? LOL...

First random hill program:

I did this program for 41 minutes. I paused to go to the bathroom and get water and it reset. The next 19 minutes were this program (capping at level 6, blah!!)

Total for short program...

And then a nice 10 minute run with no incline. Always seems SO easy after the hill programs!

Other random tidbits:

1. Yurbuds work just as well on the treadmill. Did not fall out. I can't believe they actually work!
2. My boss suggested my last day of work be on the 31st - makes it easier for payroll. So I have one week... better get started on the "life plan"
3. First day of school today!!

Left: H (my niece) Right: A (my daughter)

Walking to new school

New classroom, but she has same teachers as last year

Dog Days of Summer

Big Dry Creek Trail - Sunday, August 22

Probably should have just taken an off day, but with Warrior Dash being more of a "fun run" than a race, and only 3.27 miles, I felt like I still had to get some mileage in this weekend.

So even though I'm still ridiculously sore from gymnastics, and whatever injuries I sustained while Warrior Dashing, I met up with L after she got off work. It was 96 degrees when we headed out, and not a cloud in the sky. Damn. It was gonna be a scorcher.

All the essentials - Visor, Shades, Yurbuds, Garmin, Road ID, fuel belt

L

I still had some Clif Shot Bloks that I had in my gym bag for... 5 months? We split a package of Tropical Punch and headed out. I was struggling right off the bat. Hot. Tired. Deydrated. Not a good sign. Initially when we were heading out, I said at least 6, not more than 8. I decided at the first water stop to turn around at 3.5 for a 7 mile loop.

Barely made it to the turnaround point. Thinking to myself this is the worst run I've been on since we were in Minnesota.

Past, Present, Future signage for the open space... aka "Turnaround point at 3.5 miles"

Have no idea how I managed to actually run those last few miles. Only saving grace was we finally got some cloud cover the last mile or so. I think I'm pretty much done with these insane afternoon runs. They are for the birds. Seriously terrible run. Barely made it through 7 miles, and it took forever (about 80 minutes).

In other fitness related news... my half fanatic membership has been approved. I'm new member 513!!! Also, this was my first run testing out the Yurbuds... they really work! I did not have to mess with them at all, and since they are made out of rubber instead of hard plastic they did not hurt the inside of my ears at all. Awesome!!