Half Marathon #3 Recap

I figure since it’s been a month, I can finally do the recap for my third half marathon.  As disappointing as it was, I also learned a lot and it hasn’t scarred me permanently 😛 Thanks for following my journey!

Training:
I had planned on doing the 12 week Hal Higdon plan, like I did for the first two.  The first week of the 12 was the last week of Beachbody’s Health Bet challenge, and there was a week where we had a pre-scheduled trip to Snowshoe Mountain resort so I rested from running those two weeks and only trained 10. The change of routine actually helped me increase pace.

Though I had increased my pace during my last training, it had been over a year.  So this time around I started at roughly a 9:45-10 minute mile.  The last week of my training I was averaging 8:30-9.  I knew I needed about 9 for the race to hit PR.  In retrospect, I should have done more run/walk intervals since I figured I wouldn’t be able to run the whole thing, but pace was where my focus was.  Run/walk intervals based on feel is now the plan for my first marathon and hoping to PR on a half during the training for that.

Time/Results:

• I finished in 2:03:54 (previous times were 2:01:45 and 2:06:26)
• 1696 out of 5445 overall (31%)
• 731 out of 3280 females (22%)
• 136 out of 559 females 35-39 (24%)
• Pace was 9:16 min/mi at the 10k split
• Overall pace was 9:28 min/mi

Gear:
Went against my better judgement with wearing some new gear, but everything worked out! I figured since the conditions were already less than ideal, it couldn’t hurt too much more ha.

• TreadBands headband – never slipped ONCE and so excited for that!  I ended up buying two after a demo at the expo.  They are guaranteed for life, so I figured what the hell!  I was nothing was happy with them!  Check them out!  http://treadbands.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/TreadBands/.
• I wore a new Shamrock tank from the expo, but it was a Brooks tech shirt so thought it would be better in the rain than the cotton tanks I brought with me.
• New running jacket with air vents on the sleeves and upper back.  It stayed put, never chafed, and kept me cool and warm at the same time.  I had owned it for a few months but the weather never gave me the “opportunity” to need it for a training run.
• I ended up wearing a thinning pair of compression socks rather than my double layer SwiftWicks. I thought those would get heavy once wet.
• Saucony Guide 8s that I was training on since day one.  I started training with 9s last fall for the half I ended up deferring but I strongly dislike the new EVERUN layer.  The extra cushion is great for walking, but make my feet feel heavy running.  After three weeks of painful running (last fall), I ended up ordering another pair of 8s online, in the same color I had for 2015’s half training.  Love them. I had about 130 miles on them at the start of the race.  Gonna look into other stabilization shoes from Saucony – saw some Hurricane  ISOs at the expo that felt good – whch is also a stabilization shoe. bt I do need to get my gait and form looked at again. I’m starting to think having “corrective” shoes might have turned me into a neutral runner, which is what might be causing part of  the pain in my foot.
• Nike Epic Run Dri-FIT Crop — Ah – May – ZING.  Love them.  Will never go back.  I have two pairs now.  Mesh air vents  behind the knees keep you cool.  There are three pockets, one with a zipper, and they are a compression pant.  They stay put and they are mid-calf so don’t ride up on my knee like my other capris, too.
• VS Incredible sports bra – no bounce…very necessary.
• Body Glide on pretty much everything , and Aquaphor between my toes. Never chafed once, anywhere.

During race:
Conditions – 39 degrees, 20 mph sustained winds, 40 mph gusts – constant rain.

Route – out of the VA Beach resort area, next to First Landing State Park, through Fort Story, then ending on the boardwalk at King Neptune (seeing him once you get on the boardwalk…objects in distance during a half marathon are farther away than they appear at first glance…you still have almost a freaking half mile then). At least there was very little elevation gain.

Food – had some farina with maple syrup before the race and two scoops of Energize.  Had Jelly Belly sports beans for on the course – I think 6 of them.  Will bring more next time, and also train with Gu so I can use that at mile 5.5 (I bought one to train with and forgot).

I was scheduled to start in Corral 4, but was hoping for a sub-2 hr. PR, so I moved to Corral 5 to be with the pacers there.  It was a little confusing at the beginning, too, since he bumped some of us up to Corral 3 and then had to slow his pace to wait for the ones stuck in 5.  I stayed with the 2 hr. pacer until mile 9 or so.  Should’ve just done my own thing, since I knew I’d have to walk eventually.

-The lady between mile 10 and 11 with box of tissues was a GODSEND.  I normally pack tissues into my pockets – one for each mile – so I can blow my nose.  I did that (thanks hotel guy) but they were wet wads in my pocket before I even reached mile one – threw them on the side of the road (sorry cleanup crew).

-Foot pain afterward.  Both feet hurt.  Don’t think I stretched enough after.  Was heavy footed because of the rain and training on mainly treadmill for the last four weeks didn’t help.  I need to make sure to get outside as often as possible during marathon training…

Shout-outs:
Holiday Inn VA Beach – they were super nice and helpful.  They explained about road closures and how to find everything easily, knowing most of the guests were there for the race.  We got an automatic 2 p.m. check-out if in the race block. They offered a carb-loading dinner the night before in the hotel.  There were also free breakfast packs to two people in the room (muffin, banana, water) – available before the regular breakfast time of 6:30 which is helpful since the half started at 7.  The guys at the desk were handing out garbage bags for makeshift ponchos, tissues for snot and crying, and just overall support.  They were awesome.

Back Bay Gourmet – yummy carb loading on Friday night.  Super delicious sweet potato biscuits and amazing food overall – great beer selection!

Green Flash Brewery – really affordable drinking!  Sample cups were like 4 oz. and only $1.25.  Full pours (16 oz I’m guessing) for $5!  Lots of options, but no tours :-/

Repeal Bourbon & Burgers – OMG YUM.  The burgers were perfectly cooked.  Bacon dust – just get it.  The mac and cheese is the bomb, too, and their drinks were yummy.

Home Republic – Gouda cream…on EVERYTHING.  Decent beers, good food. Just don’t expect soup before dinner time haha.

Duck Donuts – they’re just always amazing no matter where you are – but better fresh. Great to have in the car on the way home when snack sensations hit (and calorie burn is at its max).

Future:
Ended up doing my 5th annual Monument Ave 10k less than two weeks later.  Took it easy and ran the whole thing, which was something I wasn’t sure would happen after the foot pain.  I’m signed up for the half in Richmond in November, but planning on upgrading to the full once we get closer (have to decide before 10/31).  Marathon training starts tomorrow (4/18) and we’ll see how I progress up until the final decision time.  We’ve already signed up for the Dolphin Challenge during Shamrock next March which is the 8k on Saturday and Half on Sunday. The route was great – let’s just hope the weather conditions are better!  And I’ve committed to joining my friend on her “race in every state” challenge – with no time limit to complete it.  I already have NY, VA, MD, DC, NC, and NV.  Excited to add to the list!  Stay tuned for another post on that 🙂