Race Reports/Encouragement/Kudos for November 9th

[Big Vic]

Sunday, 9 November

9 - dsnyfan21 (Tracy) 6K Judged Racewalk, Coconut Creek, FL
9 – getnthinr (Wendy) Battleship Half Marathon, Wilmington, NC
9 - Pungodingy (Angie) World Run Day 10K, Concord, NH
9 – TnTsParty (Tricia) 8th Annual PAL 1/2 Marathon, Boca Raton, FL


GO! WISH Team GO!

 

[scoolover]

BEST OF LUCK ALL. GO WISHERS!!!

 

[getnthinr]

Go WISHers!!!!!!

I am actually keepin'-it-local this weekend and doing my training walk with Jeanne (jeanneg). I'm calling it the "Almost 10 on Almost the 10th" (though we may actually go 10, who knows!). I will be doing a 5K on the way to meet Jeanne: the Free to Breathe 5K in Raleigh.

 

[dsnyfan21]

Go Team Go !!!

WISH rocks!!!

​

 

[Kristi1357]

Go WISHers!

 

[Caseydilla]

Good luck to everyone this weekend!

 

[TnTsParty]

Go Wisher's - looks like there will be a few of us out there this weekend in races. I am excited yet nervous for my first 1/2. Good luck this weekend WISH team

 

[Caseydilla]

Go Wisher's - looks like there will be a few of us out there this weekend in races. I am excited yet nervous for my first 1/2. Good luck this weekend WISH team

You'll do great! Have a good race. Best of luck with your first half!

 

[mkymsehi]

Good running and racewalking Team!

 

[hockeygirl]

Good Luck everyone!

 

[dsnyfan21]

Tricia: I'll be thinking about you on Sunday - I'll be right next door in Coconut Creek!! GOod luck and when you think you can't go any further. Say out loud to yourself, "I CAN do this!!" You may need to do it a few times, but it will help.

Tracy

 

[TnTsParty]

Thanks Tracy and good luck yourself tomorrow. You know I will be saying out loud - Yes I CAN do this (right after I say to myself - I can't do this anymore!!) I will be thinking of you and smiling and then I know I CAN do it.

 

[dsnyfan21]

Tricia: Hope you heard me say "You can do it!!" I said that as I was rounding the corner on my last lap!!

This morning was a great morning in S.FL to be doing a race. Temps at my packet Pickup was 64. The South FLorida Racewalkers were holding the National and FLorida State 20K Championships!! Also there was a 6K and 10K open races going on. I signed up for the 6K. After I got my things around 6:30am I went and did about a 15min wearmup walk with some drills. I went to the restroom and headed for the start line. The 6K would be 3 laps around the course. Race started and I went out a bit fast like I do when I'm around faster people. I quickly settled into a good pace. I did negative splits!! Yeah!
I finished my 3.75 miles in 46min 50sec. That was a PR for me!!!
I then cooled down with some more walking and waited for the others to finish there races.
Got a nice little trophy.

Tracy

 

[TnTsParty]

Thanks Tracy - your encouragement helped me today. I said to myself plenty of times I CAN do it (remember Tracy said so!!) Sounds like you had a great race today too.

My first half marathon was better then I expected. Despite getting to bed at a decent time I didn't sleep very well - I woke up at 2:30AM and couldn't get back to sleep for another hour or so. Then I woke up again at 4:30AM and since my alarm was set for 4:45AM I figured I would just get up and get ready. So I did my normal routine like I do before my Saturday long runs (glad I have been so disciplined with them since July so that I looked at this first 1/2 as a training run) but for some reason I was still anxious (I get that way even before long training runs to) I actually ended up being ready earlier then I expected and since I was anxious and getting nauseas I decided to leave for the race.

As Tracy already mentioned the morning was nice (although I don't know what the temp was but if Tracy says it was 64 at her packet pick up it was around that at my packet pick up. I left my DH home for this race (he has been to every single other race of mine but I didn't want him to have to sit there for 3 hours) The 1/2 started at the 1 mile mark of my normal Saturday long run route so at least it was mostly familiar. The race went through and eventually finished in Spanish River Park in Boca Raton. So that was where everyone parked. I had to walk to the complete opposite side of the park to find packet pickup. It was a little chilly and I forgot to bring a jacket and I was wearing a sleeveless shirt and shorts (I knew I would be fine once I started running and am glad I didn't have anymore than that) I tried to find people from my marathon training team but didn't immediately see anyone (the race was put on by my running group and one of my coaches from the training group was the race director) I finally worked my way over to the finish line and eventually found people from my training team who I knew were at a similar pace as me since we normally run together on Saturday's.

So the race started off and we were moving along at a manageable pace and I ran with 2 ladies from my team. My DH ended up calling me on my cell phone when I was just past 2 mile marker - to wish me luck!! Now if anyone has read any of my race reports or even reports from training I have never been able to run more then say a mile or 2 without HAVING to stop to walk. This past week on my short runs (2-3 miles) I have been trying to go the whole distance without walking. It helped that I had those 2 ladies with me because I was able to stay with them and run 6 STRAIGHT MILES without stopping. I did slow my pace a few times and fell back from them but I would pull back up to them (they were good for motivation) but after that my shoulder was bothering me too much to keep going (I need to train my brain to not listen to itself!! LOL) I knew I was doing pretty good with pace so I stuck with my walking fast and running back and forth to get it done. The route was kind of a mental downer since it started like I said at my normal 1 mile spot on AIA then went 2 miles and then went into a neighborhood (not my normal route) and curved through there and then went back out to A1A for another 2 miles until we turned around (thankfully we didn't have to go over the inlet bridge because I really HATE running over that bridge since the railings don't go all the way down - I think I am afraid of slipping and falling into the inlet - YIKES ) we then went back the other way on A1A and back through the neighborhood the way we came and then back out on A1A for about 1 1/2 miles and then into the park - this is where I remember passing mile 7 and at that point I was all by myself (I seriously thought I was DLF even though in the back of my mind I knew I wasn't) by this point there was already people finishing and so I knew I was getting close to where the finish line was but I knew it wasn't time for me to finish yet - I thought I went the wrong way - so I asked - thankfully I was going the right way. Well then it was back down A1A for 2 miles then we worked ourselves back into that neighborhood to work ourselves back toward the park (see why I said the route was kind of a downer - going back and forth over the same route and the majority of it is my normal route that I am use to going out and back on - not out, back and then out and back again!!) my sister and my niece were going to meet me at the finish line so I would have someone there for the finish so when she got to the park she called me (yeah I got 2 phone calls in the middle of my 1/2 lol) she wanted to know where to go to see me finish. I told her I was almost to mile 11 and that I had another 2.1 miles to go. So I hang up with her and not too long after that I see mile 12 (so I completely missed mile 11 - which was no big deal to me!!) We then turned back into the park and after almost having to wait for vehicles leaving the park and people who had already finished the race standing in the way I said out loud to myself (since at that point there was no one around) that I was so DONE with this race (how am I supposed to get through 26.2 if I was so DONE with this race before 13???) Once I went past the 13 mile marker I put it in high gear and ended up sprinting to the finish strong at 2:31 - I had figured 2:37 so 2:31 has me estatic!! (except I can't quite move as fast as that smilie right now!! LOL)

My sister got a few pics of me going over the finish line and it has the exact finish time on it (same as what was posted on the official time) so when she sends those over to me I will post them. I will also post a pic of my medal. Yeah now I have a medal for a race other than a Disney race.

Sorry this race report is SO huge but once I started typing it all came out mile by mile!! LOL I think I need to go take a nap now!! LOL

 

[dsnyfan21]

Tricia - NIce going on your first Half!! You got it done and in return a sense of accomplishment and some nice bling!

Tracy

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Tracy, good job! Congrats on that PR!

Tricia, Congratulations on your FIRST Half Marathon! Great job and race report!

 

[getnthinr]

Wow, Tricia, I am so impressed with your pace for your first half -- and don't worry, a marathon is definitely within your reach! (Heck, I'll never be able to manage that -- no matter how many halfs I do.)

Tracy, you are one speedy walker! And a trophy! Yahoo!

OK, my weekend is kind of a blur. About Wednesday night, I realized if I could squeeze in one more marathon before January, the Disney marathon portion of my Goofy would be my 30th marathon. Something about the Disney event being a nice round number appealed to me, and I started thinking about that OBX marathon entry that I'd already paid for. I emailed the members of my NC Roadrunners race team and explained my dilemma. I couldn't pick up my race packet on Saturday, but I'd like to do the race. Was anyone doing the race that could help? Three folks came through for me in an incredible way: two guys (for whom OBX was to be their first marathon) offered to pick up my race packet and meet me at the starting line, and a lady on the team said she couldn't offer me a bed, but she had tons of floor space if I wanted to crash there on Saturday night. I am still incredibly grateful to them -- oh yeah, and the two "marathon virgins" who helped me out -- they qualified for BOSTON their first time out!!!!! How awesome is THAT?!?!?!

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Saturday morning I go to my 5K and finish slightly over 40 minutes (again) and then meet Jeanne (jeanneg) for our arranged training walk. It took me a while but I finally worked up the nerve to tell her that after our 10-miler today, I was driving to the Outer Banks to attempt a marathon that I was in no way prepared for -- just because I wanted Disney to be my 30th. She was a little... er... surprised(?) and said she'd pray for me. (And I'd need it.) I explained that the OBX was a relatively easy marathon (if there is such a thing) -- they have a 7.5- or 8-hour time limit, the course is primarily flat, and the race is extremely well-organized and well-supported. (No worries about running out of water or getting lost.)

And, as Jeanne pointed out to me (I really hadn't thought about this), I would be doing 13.1 miles on Saturday (between the 5K and our training walk) and a marathon on Sunday -- so it was a Goofy "sneak preview" of sorts. (But without all the wonderful WISH team.)

I apologize for the religious references, but I have to say I felt my trip was blessed from the beginning. On my drive to the 5K and a very pleasant 10 miles with Jeanne on Saturday, I was greeted by a stunning rainbow. Everything about getting my packet and having a place to stay for my marathon fell into place perfectly, and the weather Sunday (marathon day) was impeccable -- cool with a light breeze. Talk about getting "the desires of your heart"!

After kind of a restless night (maybe I'm too old for sleeping on the floor ), I awoke early Sunday and headed to the marathon finish to park (then catch the shuttle to the start). The OBX marathon is a point-to-point course, so you begin far north at Kitty Hawk, come through Nags Head, Jockeys Ridge, and end in Manteo on Roanoke Island -- and there's a bridge to cross on the way.

I'd done the half there twice, but this was my first time attempting the full. I have to say I was surprised at how hilly the Nags Head Woods section was. (My DH pointed out to me that with names like Kill Devil Hills and Jockeys Ridge, I shouldn't wonder that the course was not completely flat.)

And there was the bridge.

I tried to take photos of the first part of the course, because I'm pretty sure that I have race reports on the WISH board from years past that chronicle the last 13.1 miles. The course begins in a preserve with lots of trees and takes an unpaved trail through Nags Head Woods, so at times it seems very un-beach-like, but it includes a lot of incredibly scenic water views as well.

And there is the bridge. There's a lot of water under that.

I have to say the locals were absolutely wonderful about being out early to support the marathoners -- and because it's a point-to-point, they'd never see any of the half marathoners (who start midway the course). It was all about us!

These guys were passing out jello shooters at about mile 5-6. (I think they were sampling them too.) I passed on the shooters but had to grab a photo.

There were so many course decorations -- some elaborate, some simple and cute.

I can't remember how many pirate ships I saw. Here are some samples.

And many volunteers were decked out in observance of this year's pirate theme. It was just great. The race shirt has a big red Arrrrrrgh! printed across the back, the goodie bag was a booty bag, and the medal is supposed to represent a treasure map. Pretty cool.

But before you can get the medal or wear the shirt, you must cross the bridge at mile 22/23.

And I did. Almost my worst marathon pace ever, but 29 is in the books and I'm very grateful.

Now that I've done my pseudo-Goofy, all I need to do is finish training for the real one, right?

 

[postesf]

Hey Wendy... Can you post a pic of that medal? It sounds cool. I'd like to do the OBX half since it is more "local" but I have this thing about Disney being my first Half... Maybe next year!

Glad your pseudo Goofy went well!

Yay Tricia!!!

Stacie

 

[getnthinr]

Hey Wendy... Can you post a pic of that medal? It sounds cool.

Stacie

Added it to my report, Stacie -- but be aware that they have changed the medal design every year, so next year's medal may look nothing like this one. Last year's medal was a little tiny sea shell -- a real disappointment after the first year's very nice medal. But this year's medal was cool, so maybe they've worked out the kinks.

I can't believe I forgot to mention that they had so many marathon finishers that they ran out of medals for the full -- but it's all good, they gave all the "late" marathon finishers a half marathon medal to keep and they are mailing us a full marathon medal as well. Double-bling. (Sounding more and more like the Goofy, eh?)

 

[goofyinohio]

Hey Wendy Thanks for the heads up and Congrats on your race. This one has to be added to my list. Looks great.