Hanging up my running shoes-Update on ZellyB

[rteetz]

Woohooo! Good for you! I am jealous and excited for you. I am thinking 2018 I might finally do a west coast race.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Happy your foot is still coming along! And yay for Tink registration!!

 

[girliea]

HEY LOOK WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!!

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Chances are now exactly 100% that I'll be participating in the Pixie Dust Challenge in May. Chris is even going to come along with me. YAY!!! Happy Mother's Day to me, I guess. And we'll be saying hello to that Coast to Coast medal as well. I'm so stinking excited and can't wait to run a Disney race on the west coast.

I even went ahead and reserved a hotel room at the Residence Inn at the convention center. Pretty close and easily walking distance and it had really good reviews on Expedia. WOOHOO!!!!!

Wahoo! and Happy Mother's Day ZellyB!

I'm so glad your foot is behaving now--hope that continues!
Scary dude there!

Good luck on your Half, this weekend I think?

 

[ZellyB]

BASS PRO HALF MARATHON REPORT
Half marathon number 15!

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Sunday, November 6, 2016 the day for the Bass Pro Fitness weekend. My original plan early this year was to run the marathon and go for a PR-crushing sub 5:00 marathon. Alas with some serious runner's knee problems early in the training season and then plantar fasciitis kicking in the latter part, discretion became the better part of valor and I dropped back to the half marathon and decided I'd be content with just finishing it up as a supported training run for the Goofy challenge in January. I have been getting steady improvement in the heel over the last several weeks although still not fully healed, my primary goal this weekend was to finish the half and just not set myself back too much with my PF. Secretly, I was hoping to finish the half before getting lapped by the marathon winner and maybe even getting in with a sub-2:30. Chris, my husband, was running the full this year and helping to support one of our Galloway runners who had a goal of a 4:45 and maybe even a stretch to 4:30 in the marathon.

One of the nice things about the Bass Pro weekend is that it's on the Daylight Savings weekend, so you get an extra hour of sleep! That's always a plus. One bad thing for me this year is it also happened to be our FP+ morning, but luckily I was able to do that in the car on the drive in. Got everything I wanted and mostly with the times I wanted. YAY!

The weather was set to be perfect with a mid-40 degree start to the day and a finish in the mid-50s for me and probably low 60s for Chris. Decided I could run this baby like a machine, so laid out my InB Robot set for the race. Ready to go!!

We always gather with our Galloway group in a private room at the Bass Pro Shop before the race for a group photo and the added bonus of a private real bathroom. Sweet. We headed outside about 15 minutes before race time and waited to begin. A little selfie action before the start.

Race time was set for 7:00 AM and a minute or two before we had a lovely rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. It really was a glorious morning for a run.

This race draws a couple of thousand participants and we hung toward the back for the start. The marathon and half-marathon courses separate at about the 1 mile mark, so I ran along with Chris for that first mile at a really slow pace. Hard to go much faster with the crowds. As we were running, in front of us was a man with a "Blind Runner" on his shirt. He was tethered to another man in front of him with a wrist tether and another man was behind him. He was running the marathon!! Talk about some courage!! Chris and I got to the mile mark and waved good-bye and said good luck to each other and off we went out separate ways. I've never actually run a race by myself before. Weird right? There were some other Galloway runners doing about my pace and intervals, but I really wanted to see how I did alone - especially since I wasn't worrying about pace or anything else. I tucked in my earbud and got my tunes going and settled into my :60/:30 intervals. I felt comfortable and just set about enjoying the run. Around mile 4, we pass in front of the first house that Chris and I owned as a married couple. Had to grab a quick shot.

I continued on and felt pretty comfortable, I'd settled into around an 11:05 pace or so which was a bit faster than I thought I'd do, but since I felt good I just decided to keep with it and if I slowed down as the race continued that would be fine too. We haven't had the prettiest of falls here, but this little stretch of the race is always one of my favorites. Just so pretty as we are running into our downtown area.

The next couple of miles went by pretty uneventfully, I was enjoying listening to my tunes and running along. Then came my favorite part of the race!! We run through the back of a local microbrewery and they always hand out a small drink of beer. YUMMY! All races should have beer along the way.

After my quick drink of some free suds, I cruised on around our downtown square and started the trek back toward the finish line. I was still feeling pretty good as I ran around a local park and headed toward one of the tougher portions of the race. Around mile 9, we have about a mile and a half of a long slog up a gradual hill. It's not a tough hill per se, but it just goes on for a long time and is steadily uphill the entire way. I was starting to get a bit tired then around mile 10 or 11, and my time was slowly slipping and I was starting to become aware of my heel and some pain there, so I switched out from :60/:30 intervals to :30/:30 intervals to the finish.

Final time ended up being 2:31:03 which is sort of in line with an average pace for me on a half. Quite a bit off my PR, but that was something I totally expected. I also didn't get lapped by the marathon finisher so yay on that and pretty close to a 2:30 race. Given how much time I've had to take off and that my foot is still not 100%, I'll take it. After getting through the finisher chute, I sat down to drink some chocolate milk and admire the 10 year anniversary medal.

Pretty, right? After a few minutes, I headed to the car to track down Chris at a couple of points on the marathon route. A friend had seen him on the course and snapped this shot - he looks so happy!

I caught him around mile 20 and he was all alone. I asked him where the other girl from our group was and he said she had to bail into a med tent back around mile 18. Just sick to her stomach and light-headed so he was on his own. But, he was doing well and charging forward. I saw him again about mile 24 and he was still doing well although he said he had a huge blister on the bottom of his foot that had popped and was causing him some pain. But, I went to wait for him at the finish line and he finished up with a 4:35 and some change time. Not a PR for him either, but a solid marathon performance.

We lingered for a short time to visit with some other members of our group before heading home to lounge on the couch for the day and watch football. GO CHIEFS!!!!

So happy I was still able to run this race. It's the 5th year in a row I've participated in the race weekend (4 halfs and 1 full) and I really do think it's a great race. As for today, my legs are pretty stiff and sore which is to be expected after the lack of training I've had. My heel is definitely more tender than before the run, but also not horrible. I have a massage this afternoon which I hope will help and then we are resting the rest of the week and planning to head back out on more training this weekend. So fingers crossed that my heel recovers quickly and then it's on to Goofy weekend!!! Thanks for reading along and all the encouragement from everyone.

 

[DopeyBadger]

HOORAY! Congrats on finishing the half. I take that as a sign of improvement from just a few weeks ago and well on your way to Goofy!

And yea for FP because it feels so much more real with those checked off the list. Only 4-5 weeks till corrals/waivers!

 

[roxymama]

Congrats! And fingers and toes crossed for your PF!
So was racing alone alright or would you prefer group running still? We are the opposite that it wasnt until recently that I did races with someone else. I like both ways for very different reasons.

That is a sweet medal btw!

 

[ZellyB]

HOORAY! Congrats on finishing the half. I take that as a sign of improvement from just a few weeks ago and well on your way to Goofy!

And yea for FP because it feels so much more real with those checked off the list. Only 4-5 weeks till corrals/waivers!

Thank you! I was a bit stressed trying to do my FP on my phone and yes so glad to have them done!! Under 60 days now. Yay!! I'm also encouraged about my progress.

Congrats! And fingers and toes crossed for your PF!
So was racing alone alright or would you prefer group running still? We are the opposite that it wasnt until recently that I did races with someone else. I like both ways for very different reasons.

That is a sweet medal btw!

I actually really enjoyed racing alone. I think given the choice I'd always prefer to run with others but this was also nice. I was able to really zone out at times and just enjoy what I was doing and savor the experience. So yeah, I see things to enjoy about both experiences.

I really love the medals for these races and this being an anniversary year it was a double spinner. Irresistible to me!

 

[ZellyB]

Hey @roxymama look what came today!!

They turned out great. Thanks for the fantastic idea!!

 

[Ariel484]

Great job to you and Chris!! This has to be a confidence-booster for you. Awesome!

LOVE the shirt - perfect!!

 

[CherieFran]

Great race recap! Congratulations! That's so neat that you got to run by your old house. Glad your FP+ worked out. That would have stressed me out big time to have to worry about on race morning.

 

[roxymama]

Hey @roxymama look what came today!!

They turned out great. Thanks for the fantastic idea!!

Oh that is so great!!!!

I bet if they offered customized shirts like this at the expo there would be a line for them

 

[rteetz]

Congrats on the race! Looks like it went well.

Love the shirt!

 

[pixarmom]

Hey @roxymama look what came today!!

They turned out great. Thanks for the fantastic idea!!

This is crazy adorable!!!!

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Congratulations on a great race! I love the idea of doing a race on Daylight Savings weekend- I'm such a baby about waking up early that would really help me out haha That race looked like a pretty one, and I think you are well on your way to Goofy now!

Congrats to Chris too, and man he's got some serious calf/leg muscles in that pic!

 

[cavepig]

That shirt is awesome! I lurk on your thread and was like oh her heal pain sounds like what I've been having. I didn't even think of plantar fasciitis, I kept thinking of a bruise or something. So, now taking it as plantar after reading on it and trying to figure out stretches to do for it. It kills when waking up or after sitting or at WDW for Wine & Dine all the walking & line standing didn't help it seems. So, your journal helped me out figuring my pain, so thanks on that, but hope you heal up as well! Also, great job on your half!

 

[ZellyB]

Great job to you and Chris!! This has to be a confidence-booster for you. Awesome!

LOVE the shirt - perfect!!

Thank you. It really did help me think I might actually be okay for Goofy! I'm in love with that shirt!!

Great race recap! Congratulations! That's so neat that you got to run by your old house. Glad your FP+ worked out. That would have stressed me out big time to have to worry about on race morning.

I always like seeing our first house. I loved that little house so much. And yes, I was majorly stressing out in the car trying to get those FP+ done. Glad it's done now!

Oh that is so great!!!!

I bet if they offered customized shirts like this at the expo there would be a line for them

Thank you again for the great idea. They'd be a total sell-out, right?

Congrats on the race! Looks like it went well.

Love the shirt!

Thank you. It really was a great race. So glad I was able to do it.

This is crazy adorable!!!!

Right? That roxymama is creative!!

Congratulations on a great race! I love the idea of doing a race on Daylight Savings weekend- I'm such a baby about waking up early that would really help me out haha That race looked like a pretty one, and I think you are well on your way to Goofy now!

Congrats to Chris too, and man he's got some serious calf/leg muscles in that pic!

That sleeping in is the best. That man of mine does have some good legs!!

That shirt is awesome! I lurk on your thread and was like oh her heal pain sounds like what I've been having. I didn't even think of plantar fasciitis, I kept thinking of a bruise or something. So, now taking it as plantar after reading on it and trying to figure out stretches to do for it. It kills when waking up or after sitting or at WDW for Wine & Dine all the walking & line standing didn't help it seems. So, your journal helped me out figuring my pain, so thanks on that, but hope you heal up as well! Also, great job on your half!

Sorry to hear you may have PF. From what you are saying it sure sounds like that's what you have. I"m glad my journal may have helped, but bummed that you are dealing with it. It's been crazy slow to heal up, but at least it still seems to be gradually improving. Hope yours gets better quickly!

 

[ZellyB]

DUCK! DUCK! GOOFY!
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Sorry to be sort of absent lately on posting. My work and home life the last couple of weeks has been CRAZY. ACK!!! So, consider this just a quick fly-by post. I'm doing pretty well still with my heel. We took the week off from running after the race to rest up, but last Saturday we ran an easy 6. That went well and my heel felt pretty good, so no long-lasting ill-effects from the race. YAY. We have a plan to do 15 this weekend. I'm having to push a bit to try and get my mileage up for Goofy, but again we plan to take this easy and just get the miles in, so I think I'll be okay.

I think I had already mentioned that I wanted to do a Daisy and Donald thing for the half marathon and save our awesome Goofy FP shirts for the marathon. I really didn't want to spend a lot of money to buy custom shirts, so I found some pictures of Daisy and Donald shirts and bought some tech fabric online and my mom made us shirts. They aren't perfect, but I think they turned out really well.

Duck #1 - Daisy with my white linen sparkle skirt

Duck #2 - Donald (Chris refuses to let me try to find him white shorts )

Honestly, I don't think he's real crazy about wearing this one, but he's humoring me. Such a good husband.

So, outfits for race weekend - CHECK!!

 

[rteetz]

Awesome outfits!

 

[Ariel484]

Wow, I can't believe your mom made the those! Awesome!

So glad your heel is feeling good, you're gonna kill that 15-miler this weekend!

 

[ZellyB]

Awesome outfits!

Thank you! Probably the first and last time I'll ever get Chris to agree to something this costumey - so I better make the most of it.

Wow, I can't believe your mom made the those! Awesome!

So glad your heel is feeling good, you're gonna kill that 15-miler this weekend!

My mom is awesome. She doesn't sew like she used to, but she's an amazing seamstress. I basically just showed her a picture of what I wanted and gave her a couple of our running shirts to pattern it after and voila!

Thanks for the vote of confidence on our 15-miler.