3M Half Marathon

Last year Aixa got with me and asked if I wanted to do a double weekend race to celebrate her 40th birthday. Obviously I told her of course! It worked out that we could do the Houston half marathon and then 3M since they didn't fall on the same weekend this year. 3M is usually the on the same weekend as Aixa's birthday so it's fun to go race and then celebrate her birthday.

Well, it turned out that only Brian and I ended up doing the double weekend races because Aixa overslept race morning!!! I think it was an elaborate year-long con on her part, but I do feel bad that she missed the race. We drive up to Austin on race morning so she more than likely would not have made it up there in time for the race, or if she did, it would have been too hectic of a morning for her to enjoy the race. Not really an ideal way to start off your race! Race morning came cold and early (again) and we got there with just enough time to drop off gear bags, hit the port-o-pots, and get to the start line. I'll admit that I was a little unsure of how my day was going to go because my plan had been to hang onto Aixa's heels since I knew what her goal for the race was. I also knew Brian was going to run his own race and there was no way I could keep up with him. Plus, I lost the ear piece for my headphone so I ended up having to run sans music. Not necessarily ideal to be in your own head for the whole race but there was nothing I could do about it then.

So as I crossed the start line I just started my Garmin and told myself to run. This was my second attempt to crack 1:50 and I think I had told myself I need to average between 8:15 and 8:20 minute miles. The first couple of miles on this course is straight downhill before you hit some rollers so I was super stoked to see mile 2 was 7:58. It also freaked me out because I knew I couldn't hold that fast of a pace so I told myself to back off a bit. The next few miles were right were I wanted to be at 8:11 and I was feeling good. My legs could feel a little bit of fatigue from last weekend's race but they weren't too bad. I had placed myself between the 1:45 and 1:50 pace groups and I really had no idea where I was in relation to them because I hadn't seen any pacers the whole race. Around mile 9 I started to hear people on the sidelines yelling, "Go 1:50". This really almost messed with my head. And then I could hear the pacer yelling to her runners how far ahead of the pace they were and giving them tips on what to do on the next section of the course. I so didn't want to hear this!!! My pace was falling off the 8:20's and was now in the high 8:20's and I was getting frustrated. Mile 10 came and I told myself NOT to let the 1:50's catch me. I picked up the pace again and was happy to see it drop down into the 8:10's for mile 11. One more big hill before the downhill and then the hill to the finish line. I pumped my way up that hill and slowly but surely I heard the cheers for the 1:50's falling a little bit further behind me. Mile 12 was back down under 8:10. I knew I just had to hang on for one more mile. I started to get looks from other runners and I passed them because of the dying animal sounds I was making as I tried to get oxygen into my lungs. I didn't care. I WANTED that 1:49 I knew I was on pace for.

Super happy finisher!

That last stretch to the finish line was painful. It felt like I could barely pick up my feet to get me to cross that finish line but finally it was there! I stopped my Garmin and I saw the magic numbers I wanted to see:  1:49:21! I always call 3M my "assisted" half marathon PR race but after running it again, I'm going to take it as a legitimate race PR. It may have a mostly downhill elevation but you do have some legit hills on the course that can take you by surprise if you're not ready for them. I'm going to enjoy this milestone for a bit before I set new goals. Honestly, I think I'm sort of terrified to set a new goal so I just want to enjoy this one for a bit. :)

 

Houston 13.1

The first race of 2016 is in the books! I absolutely loved running the Houston half marathon. This race is so well organized. From packet pick up, to race morning, to the post race festivities. I loved all the support on the course and, of course, the run course itself was a dream - flat, flat, flat!

After my Rock n Roll race, I decided to see if I could crack 1:50 in Houston. What better course to try it on than a super flat course. Unfortunately, I had some training setbacks before Christmas and up to New Year's that caused me to miss a lot of training runs. My car started to breakdown so Brian and I had to go car shopping and I started having really bad migraine headaches. I'm not sure if the headaches were related to the stress of having to buy a car and having to have a car payment for the first time in over 8 years, but luckily I was feeling better race week and we got the car just in time so we didn't have to get a rental. I decided to just see what I had on race day and go for it.

Meet Snow White!

After Expo fun and meeting up with the A-team to head over to their friend's house where we were staying, race morning came bright and early and COLD! Unfortunately we were late for our corral A start so we ran into corral B and tried to push ourselves as close to the front as we could. Literally five minutes later we were off and running! I had some technical difficulties with my music the first mile of the race so I dropped back from Aixa and Brian. I was able to get it fixed and I was able to catch up with them. Not sure if that was the mile where I lost all the time but I'm going to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Ironman? Lol

I was feeling good right off the bat, which was a nice change from how I felt at Rock n Roll. The miles began ticking off and I was getting nervous because more times than not when I would look down at my Garmin I would see my pace to be in the high 7's. I know there is no way I could maintain that pace so I would try to reel myself in. Brian was there for me the whole time. He asked me what pace I wanted to be at and he said "Come with me". I went. He really is the most excellent run pacer. I don't know how he can keep such a steady pace outside. I'm always up and down and bursting and busting. He just calmly runs. Maybe I'll learn that one day.

The last three miles of the race came and he could tell that I was starting to sag. We run together enough he can tell by my breathing when I'm starting to struggle. He started barking orders at me to lift up my chin, drop my shoulders, breath. Instead of getting frustrated like I normally do, I listened. And OMG it worked. I lifted my eyes up to the horizon instead of on the road and put my chest out. It helped get me through the next 2 miles and forget about the lower back pain I was having. He started to get the crowd cheering by raising his arms and cheering on the other runners. It was so much fun and he was so good about trying to get me to my goal. It was so close, but I just didn't have it left in me. I held on as best as I could so I wouldn't loose too much time and crossed the finish line with a 3rd best half marathon finish of 1:52:15.

Done! Warming up!

So completely happy with this race and I definitely will be back! ;)

San Antonio Rock n Roll 13.1

I think this will be a regular race on the rotation. It's just a super convenient local race that is a lot of fun and with early registration or a coupon code isn't too pricey.

Pre-race pic with the A-team. Brian had already moved his way to the front of the crowd so he crush his race.

Going into this race I wanted to see if I could hit or better my time I did at Seawheeze (1:54). I knew where the hills on the course were this year and I was determined to not let them suck the life out of me like they did the year before. It also helped seeing these fabulous faces at the top of the hill cheering us on!

Kris, Linda, and Alex giving us great big PINK cheers!

Considering how I felt during the first mile or two of this race and how I was ready to give up and either quit or just slow down, I really pulled one out of the bag at this race. I finally got some water in me after the 2nd mile and I realized my pace was showing me that I DID have something to prove. The 8 minute miles kept clicking off and with each step I gradually felt better and stronger. Those hills that killed me last year were just little humps in the road to my half marathon PR!! I came into the finish line at 1:51:22!!! A 3 minute improvement on my Seawheeze time and 10 minutes faster than I did the race last year.

I gotta give a shout out to my husband for being such a sport and letting me drag him out to train and race all over the place. To my friends and most favorite training partners who always encourage me and push me to the limit and then some when I doubt myself. And to Brandi, my coach, for giving me some killer workouts that make me dread getting up in the morning but make me feel so much stronger after I am done with them.

Post-race selfie. Three happy finishers!

Oilman 70.3 Race report

After having raced only short-course races during the beginning half of the 2015 season, I decided sometime during the summer that I was ready to tackle another 70.3 for my end-of-the-season race. I picked Oilman because it had been a couple years since I had done it and I really, really liked the venue. Halloween weekend came and Brian and I packed up the car and headed to Conroe to stay at the race host hotel, La Torretta Resort and Spa. Even if you don't want to race, this place is super nice to stay and I would highly recommend a visit here.

I was excited for many reasons going into this race:  to see where my fitness was; meeting some new Smash teamies (Jenny, Gemma, and Veronica) who were going to be at the race; and meeting up with A-team Part Deux (Karen and Anthony), who were both also racing.

Photo shoot for Chloe & her racing shoes:)

We got to Conroe early, picked up all the race stuff, did a quick scouting of the new swim and run courses, met up with Karen and Anthony for a quick dinner, and then it was back to the hotel room to get up off the feet and relax.

Me and Super Gemma!

Race morning came and it was a bit chilly and the clouds looked ominous. I was hoping that they would blow over the night before but no such luck. Looked like it might be a little wet for the bike ride. At transition that morning I got to meet Jenny, Gemma, and Veronica and we chatted for a bit looking fabulous in our Smash kits. :) Setting up my bike and gear in transition I was very unsure of what I would wear for the bike. I was worried about being cold on the bike and I was running around asking people what they were going to wear on the bike and left with somewhat of a plan for what to wear.

For once, I was the first wave to start so I was super nervous about being late but I got down to the start line with plenty of time to get in position and "visualize" my race one last time.

Overall, I am so extremely satisfied with my race. After DNF'ing at Austin last year, it was so nice to come out and push hard at a 70.3 event and still have an amazing time doing it. My swim wasn't where I wanted it to be, but I couldn't ask for a better bike or run. I felt like I was getting pushed around on the swim and had to correct myself a few times to stay on track. Not my best swim, but not my worst either. I opted to just wear by tri kit on the bike and I think that was the best choice. It was a little chilly when the rain started coming down on us on the bike but when it stopped the weather was perfect. There was a slight headwind on the way out but I thought I stayed in a pretty good mental state and stayed safe on the course, avoiding slick white lines. At the turn around the sun peeked out and the roads were drying up and I had a tailwind blow me back in. I would have loved to have gone sub 3 hrs on the bike but maybe that's what saved my legs for the run.

My face when I saw Aixa!

The best surprise was when I pulled into T2 and saw Aixa on the sidelines cheering me on! The original A-team had made the trip to Conroe to cheer us all on!!! That was such a super nice surprise!

I started my run and was able to keep a nice clip right off the bat. It was amazing to feel so fresh after biking 56 miles. As the miles kept ticking off in the 8's I began to get excited that this was the race where I would finally crack the 2 hr half marathon time in a triathlon. I tried not to get too excited but also kept pushing the pace hoping I wouldn't implode. The course was three loops and wound in and out and around the golf course. It was mainly flat but there were some sections where the camber of the trail was so tilted that it made it hard to run. The support on the course was great and I got to see Brian and Aixa multiple times during the run. I fought hard the last 2-3 miles to not let my pace drop off too much and I crossed the finish line completely exhausted but extremely happy with my effort.

DONE!!! Almost a 1 min PR!

Happy finishers!

Swim - 43:41
T1 -2:37
Bike - 3:00:39
T2 - 1:44
Run - 1:57:12
Total - 5:45:54

Kerrville Olympic Tri

I constantly find myself falling behind on this "blog" thing but I really like sharing my stories, so if you don't mind reading about my adventures a few months after they have happened, I'm going to keep sharing. It allows me relieve all the moments again (good and bad) and I enjoy looking back on the experience and seeing if my feelings have changed since the race took place.

The Kerrville Tri is one of my favorite races and I've done it every year since it began (hint, hint - I need like a free race registration or something). One thing I did learn after last years race is that I definitely ENJOY the Olympic distance race at this venue over the half-ironman distance race. I've done the half three times and the Olympic twice and I definitely have more fun doing the Olympic.

I went into this years race with some high goals. I really, really, really wanted to place. I've been so close before and I felt like my training going into this race was strong and I was feeling good so I wanted to leave it all out there. As the race started, I felt great from the get go. I completed the swim, bike, and run without a hitch and I was very happy with my overall performance and my final time. Since it was a time-trial start I had no idea who was ahead or behind me and I kept checking my place on the computer to see if anyone who started behind me overtook me. I have to give a huge shout-out to the girl who won my AG because she ended up being the overall winner and that bumped me up into 3rd in my AG!! FINALLY - I placed in a super competitive Kerrville race!!!

Swim:  21:58 - still need to get faster in open water
T1:  2:45
Bike:  1:26:32 (20.1 mph)
T2:  2:40
Run:  54:36 (8.32 min/mi)
Total:  2:48:33

I was so super happy to be able to run that fast after having a very strong for me bike leg. I PR'd my Olympic distance time by 7 mins and got a podium finish! Great day indeed!

I loved the new 1-loop run course!

Podium!