Race Reports/Encouragement/Kudos - 17 and 18 October

[Big Vic]

Saturday, 17 October

17 - Ash&Wes07 () Race for the Cure Virginia Beach, VA
17 - bunnyfoo (Vicky) Toronto Zoo 10K Run, Toronto
17 - getnthinr (Wendy) Medoc Mountain 10 miler, Rocky Mount NC
17 - twoWDWfools (Liz) 14th Annual Indianapolis Marathon and Half Marathon (half), Indianapolis, IN

Sunday, 18 October

Nike Women's Half Marathon, San Francisco, CA
18 - escape (Susie), lacrosse lady72 (Dayna), MiaBanda (Michelle)

18 - airtime247 (Steve) Humboldt Redwoods Half Marathon, Weott, CA
18 - Caseydilla (Casey) Denver Marathon, Denver, CO
18 - Cindylou (Cindy) Baystate Marathon, Lowell, MA
18 - funwalker (Margie) Detroit Free Press – Half Marathon, Detroit, MI
18 - goofyinohio (Chris) Nationwide Better Health Half Marathon, Columbus, OH
18 - monte () Denver Half Marathon, Denver, CO
18 - Pungodingy (Angie) Making Strides 5 Miles, Concord NH
18 - syko () Nationwide Better Health Half Marathon, Columbus, OH

DesMoines Half Marathon, DesMoines, IA
18 – Tiger Lily 03 (Lily), WDWFAN9 (Pat) and DH jims2cool (Jim)


GO! WISH Team GO!

 

[suzannews]

Good luck everyone!!

 

[mousemgr2]

Have a great race everyone!!! Can't wait to read the race reports!!!

 

[tiberius]

go wish team go!!

 

[getnthinr]

After the Triple Lakes Trail Marathon a couple of weeks ago, I wasn’t ready to tackle another trail marathon, but the Medoc Trail Marathon also offers a 10-mile option, so I put it on my calendar. After a rainy week and a midweek forecast for not much better weather on Saturday, I wasn't particularly looking forward to slogging through the mud in the cold rain for 10 miles on a trail. However, we were blessed with a gorgeous cool, overcast day -- PERFECT race conditions for an old waddler like me!

And I am sooooo glad I didn't miss this one! It was a lovely well-marked course featuring NOT the mud I'd anticipated, but early Fall foliage, woodlands to shelter us from the day's stiff winds, terrain that ranged from quiet wide lowland paths to stunning ridge-top views, several wooden footbridges over streams big and small -- and, of course, the legendary Medoc -- life-size! Oh! And at the finish were friends and food: hot dogs and hamburgers (that I didn't try), and peanuts and diet coke (that I did) as well as cookies, doughnuts, pretzels, and more.

I'll point you to the race web site for medal photos, and a great slideshow of the park and trails we were on, and the Legend of Medoc (these guys have a great sense of humor).

It was such a treat to see an old friend from my Penguin days (I guess we’ve officially known each other for a decade now) -- and one of my Galloway group buddies there too, and meet her running friends, and chat about races in her nice warm car until the start. (They waited to cheer me in at the finish -- Too kind!)

I started at the rear of the field of runners and I'm pretty sure I finished the 10-miler solidly in last place at around 3:01 clock time , but I had lots of friendly, encouraging marathoners looping the trail to keep me company. (I'd love to try the marathon, but with a 6:30 cutoff, I don't think I'd have made it in this year -- and it wouldn't have been smart so close to my upcoming OBX marathon.) Trails are always challenging, and I'm a bit sore today from the one climb on the course, but I loved it!

Another great day playing in the woods!

 

[MouseDogMom]

Wendy - How do you do it? You continue to find amazing races! This one sounds absolutely fabulous. We live in the same area, and either I've never heard of the races you find, or I've skimmed right over them. You run them and discover the real gems of the region. Obviously, I need to start following you around...

Jackie

 

[Cindylou]

Wendy: Congrats to you on your wonderful race.

My race report from the Baystate Marathon in Lowell, MA.

I woke up at 5:30 with a bit of a sore throat so thought I wouldn’t be at my best today. It wasn’t raining yet, and the temperature was 42 degrees. A bit warmer than I had expected. A friend picked me up and we headed to the race. There were a few sprinkles as we walked to the arena to wait for the start.

The rain had stopped by the start of the race and I lined up a bit behind the 3:50 pacer. My Garmin had trouble locating the satellites but managed to find it just before the race started. The start is pretty crowded with 3500 runners between the half and full marathons. A went thru 1 mile at just over 9 minutes which is about where I wanted to be. At around 2 miles my Garmin started flaking out – I did a 7 minute mile according to it. It recovered after a while so I at least could see my ½ mile splits up until 12 miles or so when it started counting the mileage backwards. At that point I relied on the timer on the Garmin and the mile markers. It was a bit of an adjustment not knowing exactly what pace I was running at every moment. I was hoping to maintain 8:50 to 9 minutes per mile throughout the race. I couldn’t do the math for 8:50 in my head, but was pretty good with my 9 times tables and knew I was running a bit below that.

The rain started around 3 miles. At 6 miles the wind picked up. I got my feet completely soaked around 8 miles. The rain increased throughout the day. I alternated between being hot and cold depending on whether we were running into the wind or it was behind us. I had a wind vest that I put on and took off accordingly.

I never actually felt great at all right from the start, but didn’t really tire until after 20 miles. I went thru 20 miles at 2:59:44 (8:58 pace), so I knew I had an hour to do a 10K. I could feel myself beginning to slow. The woman in the purple shorts whom I was trying to stay in contact with was pulling away. My 4 minute cushion dwindled to 3 minutes then 2 minutes. By mile 22 my IT bands were screaming, my left calf was really tight and my feet felt like bricks. I really wanted to quit and began to doubt that I would be able to keep up the proper pace to finish under 4:00:59 – the Boston qualifying time. At this point I just started counting 1 to 100 then started all over again. It kept my mind occupied so I couldn’t partake in any negative chatter. I kept my eye on the purple shorts and eventually reeled her in. I then found someone else ahead of me and tried to keep up with them.

As I passed 25 miles I knew I had about 15 minutes to finish. I still didn’t feel confident at that point that I’d make it since I was sure my left calf was going to start cramping. I also remembered what happened last year when my body just gave out before the finish. As I approached the stadium that we finish in I could hear my husband yelling because he knew I had a good chance of meeting my time goal. Even as I entered the stadium I kept up my counting. When I finally turned the last corner I heard the announcer say that it was 4 hours. I knew I had a 1:06 buffer with my chip. At this point I knew I had made it. As I ran past the part of the track that I had face planted last year I noticed just how muddy it was and was so thankful that I wasn’t going to have a repeat of that. I crossed the finish line and was just so thankful to be done since I was in a lot of pain. My chip time was 3:59:12 I had 1:47 to spare. It was several minutes until it actually hit me that I had finally accomplished what I had set out 15 years earlier to do: qualify to run the Boston Marathon.

I'm feeling quite sore tonight and am looking forward to taking it easy this week.

Have a great night all.
Cindy

 

[goofyinohio]

Cindy - Congrats on Qualifying for Boston. That's so Awesome!!!! Great report as well.

Wendy - As Jackie said you find some awesome races. I only WISH we'd have some around here like you find. Great job and report as well!!!

 

[DianeL]

Wendy, I'm with Jackie & Chris. You find the coolest races. I've bookmarked it and checked out the Medoc story and bling. All very cool. Congrats!!!

Cindylou! Woohoo!!! You rock!!! Congrats on your Boston Qualifying time!!!

 

[timmac]

Cindy... a hearty and well earned congrats!!!!!

As for me, I didn't have it listed on the calendar, but today I ran the Footrace for the fallen 5K in Manchester NH. Two weeks post marathon, and two week pre-marathon, I figured this would be a nice change of pace, and the race did not disappoint.

There were 720 finishers today. The crowd, at a race this length, was something I wasn't used to, really. It was a good 45 seconds after the gun before I crossed the start line. That would make it hard to PR, but it is what it is, right? There were a number of local police groups, and the like. The country department of corrections had a group that marched/ran, complete with a leader calling out a "chant"... "left, right, left... keep it in step..." They ran the entire length of the race in formation.

Miles 1 and 2, I was on an 8:40 pace, on track to finish in just under 27 minutes (and on track to beat my PR of 27:02). Sure enough, coming around the final turn, I could see the mile 3 marker, and I kicked up the pace, by the time I could make out the clock, I could see "26:30". And sure enough, I crossed in 26:55 7 seconds better, but a PR nonetheless.

Now, my calves are pretty sore. However, my heels are killing me. Now, I get a bit of heel pain now and then after running (what I'd armchair-diagnose as an acute plantar fasciitis), but it's typically pretty temporary, and nearly better by the day after. What I'm feeling now seems worse. I'm thinking a few days off might do me some good... and for the remainder of the next two weeks, more cross training instead of running, and erring on the side of more rest instead of more training, then hope for the best come race day. Anyone agree or disagree with my loose plan?

 

[DianeL]

Congrats Timmac! Excellent job! I hope your foot feels better ASAP.

 

[syko]

I posted a looong report on the Buzzies page.

I hope everyone had a great race.

 

[goofyinohio]

My Nationwide Better Health Columbus Half Marathon Report (I don't normally do these so please forgive the length and blah of it)

Picked up my packet after a meeting downtown and it was a breeze. Quite a few venders and a few freebies here and there (Picked up a Cap City Half Toboggan.) The packet itself wasn't great. Mainly brochures for other races. Picked up my half shirt which was black, but still cool I thought and a Poster. Quick in and out so I was happy.

The night before I carb loaded at Cici's Pizza. Got my noodles there and some pizza with the white sauce.

Race Day -

Got up at 5:30 and was in the Garage by 6:15. Walked up towards the start and man was it cold out. 29 was what my car said. Got up to the start line and waited and waited. Finally got moving and tossed out my newly purchased $2 fleece shirt from the Salvation Army and off I went.

I was really worried about the cold and my lack of training in any cold so I should have went slow. I started all the way in the back as I usually do and started passing people left and right. I mean literally I was swerving all over the place. Mostly walkers and then some runners. I hit Mile 1 at 27:30 by the official time clock. I didn't wear my watch so I had no idea what that time really was. From that point I tried to keep that time in my mind each mile. The first 3 miles are wide open road and plenty of room you run past the Columbus Museum and the Franklin Park Conservatory. We are downtown, but heading away from there you see alot of trees and the beautiful change of scenary. Somewhere just past a mile the leaders go flying bye me. (I think I saw syko, but I'm not positive)

Around Mile 3 we turn into Bexley and some smaller streets, but very nice to look at with the houses and trees. The crowd support through here and really the whole course was amazing. I mean really it's cold out. I asked my family to stay home because of the cold and they did, but people were EVERYWHERE.

Somewhere in mile 4-6 we pass the Drexel Theater and Capital University then again beside the Franklin Park. Mile 7 was where I saw the leaders go past me so I was on the same road I started on. We then turn and head towards German Village for 8-11. If you've never been it's really an awesome place to visit (Stop by Schmidt's it my favorite.) We went around a park through there, but to be honest I can't remember the name.

The rest of the way is up High Street until you get to Nationwide in what felt like the longest climb ever. I remembered this from last years race and tried to prepare for it. I wasn't ready.

You then turn left as the Marathoner's continue straight and run towards the finish and right next to Nationwide Arena where the Blue Jackets play. I crossed the Finish line and Honestly didn't know what my time was.
Each Mile marker I passed I was in the 7:30 range (37:30, 47:30, etc.) So I thought I was close to a 10 minute mile throughout other than Mile 1 which I had no clue what my real time was. The last mile I thought took me 11 minutes as I ended up with a 2:28:08 or something like that.

After the race I got my medal and then stood in line forever. I wasn't feeling right which wasn't normal and we just continued to stand there. Couldn't get to the water because of the funneling system they had. Finally got my water, then saw bagles nah, then saw Bananas OK maybe, then I saw the Crispy Cremes (SCORE), then I grabbed some chips. Saw a bunch of people with these cool hats on and thought man I wish I bought that I didn't see it before the race. So finally I just asked a lady. "Oh they are handing them out at the Finish on the right side." Crud I finished on the left side so I went around the fence and watched people argue with a volunteer over the hat. I said if you get them to let us back in then I have no problem coming back around. They gave us all our hats and sent us on our way eventually.

So I get on my phone and of course can't find my official time. Signed up for something called tweetmytime and of course Twitter was down. For most of the early afternoon so it took me forever to find out my time. Which it said was 2:28. I told my wife no way that's right. I tried to push myself today just enough to PR. I finally got my actual time and it was 2:11:08 which was 8 minutes and 16 seconds faster than any half I've ever done.

I was so happy with the result and while it sounds strange I kind of think it helped not looking at the watch saying hey you need to slow down.....

Today my legs are sore which isn't normal. So I'm not sure if it's the cold, me running faster or what, but tonight they feel much better thanks to the Stick.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...51797960409_1391440313_30446385_1933069_n.jpg

Quick thank you to all the Volunteers and any of the race supporters. Ya'll were terrific!

 

[Mooshu]

Congrats Wendy and Cindy! Loved the race reports!!

 

[Cindylou]

Chris: Congratulations on your PR. 8:16 is a lot of time to take off. That must have been a big race if it took you 27 minutes to get to the first mile.

Timmac: Congrats on your PR too. Hope the PF improves in time for Manchester.

Wendy: Glad to hear it was such a wonderful race.

 

[escape]

Cindy - CONGRATULATONS! Woohoo!

Wendy - Awesome! What can I say? I'm amazed at what all you do.

Chris - Way to go! I'd like to knock 8+ min. off my time.

syko - I need to go read your report. I know you have a lot more races coming up - good luck!


As for me, I walked (99.5%) of the Nike Women's half in San Francisco. I did not PR or do a fast pace but I still had a lot of fun. Out of the thousands of women that participated I did manage to see a couple of WISHers - Marcia at the end and another - I'm thinking it might have been Michelle (?), not sure though.

The top four highlights of the race for me were:

1) Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge along the route

2) Coming off a big hill and seeing the Pacific ocean right in front of us and then running along side of it

3) Finishing. There sure are a lot of hills on this course.

4) Getting the bling - nice Tiffany necklace that I can wear a lot.

 

[DianeL]

Mooshu & Susie!!! Congrats on NIKE!

Susie? Did your friend Cindy do it too?

CHRIS! I wanna see this hat!

 

[DianeL]

Syko! OMG! What an experience! I hope this weekends goes smoother for you! Congrats on you placements and the Spirit award! Good luck this weekend!!!!

 

[syko]

I don't think it could get much worse!!!!!!

I'm packing for the MCM, all i'm hoping to do there is fininsh in less that 4 hours. Eventhough on my team info we are ment to finish in under 2:20

The hat (same as Chris's) form Columbus was the best thing about it for me, and i'm still having to wear my furry crocs to help with the frost bite......it looks funny in 80 heat.

 

[DianeL]

Syko? What's the details on this hat? What's it look like? I'm very curious now that both of you just HAD to have it. LOL

I hope the weather this weekend is more fitting for racing and oh your poor poor toes!

I agree, I don't think much worse could have gone wrong in Columbus. Totally sucks!