Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

Nookachamps Winter Runs

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Location:

Snoqualmie,WA,

Member Since:

Jan 31, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

Marathon PR: 4:17 at Portland Marathon, Oct. 2007

5K PR 24:37 2009

10K PR 52:58 2010

Have run 22 marathons to date.

No injuries, ever.   :)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Qualify for Boston (4:05 for my age/gender) - or, perhaps, to use my desire for a BQ as a way to get in the hated speed work so I don't just get slower and slower over the years.  This goal is "under (re)construction" right now, until I figure out whether it is truly what I want. :) 


Long-Term Running Goals:

To continue learning about myself and about running, and to enjoy being a fit, happy runner for life.   To always know why I am running and the best way to get the most (both mentally and physically) out of my runs.  To keep a sense of humor and remain optimistic about myself as a runner.  To enjoy running more and more with every passing year. 

Personal:

Baby boomer generation.  Jogged a little in my 20's and 30's.  Started running seriously in 2002.  Low-carb runner since January 2010. 

I love long runs and cold, cloudy weather.  I don't believe in "junk miles."  I am an optimist.  I adore dark chocolate, fog, my family, and knitting -- not necessarily in that order.  

"As every runner knows, running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other; it is about our lifestyle and who we are."  -- Joan Benoit Samuelson 


Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Brooks ST3 Lifetime Miles: 891.35
Vibram Five Fingers KSO Lifetime Miles: 23.77
Brooks ST3 II Lifetime Miles: 965.17
Lunaracers II Lifetime Miles: 198.23
Mizuno Wave Universe 3 Lifetime Miles: 104.14
Asics Piranha Lifetime Miles: 536.83
RunAmocs (Softstar) Lifetime Miles: 16.23
Piranha II Lifetime Miles: 219.53
Race: Nookachamps Winter Runs (13.1 Miles) 01:59:29
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
1.7013.100.000.0014.80

 

Garmin Time 1:59:29

Gun Time  ??? will report back

Average Pace 9:06

Mid 30sF rising to low 40s F. Sunny with a bit of wind after mile 2.  Clouds moving in at the end. 

Warm up of 1.7 miles with some strides 


1   9:20  

I am slowly learning to deal with the mental stress of a crowded start, but I still tend to get rattled.  It took a good half mile for the field to thin out.  We had a short flat stretch and then some rolling inclines and finally a hill you could really feel, less than a quarter mile I think.  


2   8:45 

This mile takes us down a long hill into the valley, where we stay for some time.  I let myself go a little on the long downhill run.  My short legs can handle the downhills pretty well without much cost.  


3   9:03  

I missed a water stop here. There was a line of runners waiting because cups weren't filled.  I did stop briefly, feeling confused about what to do, then I just took off.  The wind began to be a problem at this point, and I tried to stay relaxed and think of slicing through it rather than fighting it.  I tried drafting on several runners, but no one around me was running my pace here.  It seemed like a lot of folks went out too fast and were already slowing down and looking like they were in some trouble. But maybe it was the wind. 


4   8:58   

Somewhere around here I saw my first swans, a small group flying overhead. (Nookachamps runs through the migration path of Trumpeter Swans.)  I did have 4 swans fly right over my car on the way into town, but these were the first I saw during the race.  Everything felt great at this point, as I pondered why it is so hard to run a pace in workouts that feels easy on race day.  


5   8:55  

Second swan sighting, this time a huge group of them sitting in a field. Runner next to me, with whom I hadn't spoken at all, just said, "that them?"  "Yep! That's them!"   She was watching for them too I guess.  I noticed here that I'd been having a hard time keeping an even pace, looking at my Garmin a lot and making lots of adjustments.  I really envy runners who have such consistent splits. We had to watch for and dodge traffic whenever passing and I am sure that didn't help any.  I remember I had that problem last year here too.  


6   9:11  

Walked briefly through a water stop.  Ran through the tiny town of Clear Lake and up a very steep short hill, then down again.  Woods instead of fields for a change.  Still feel great. 


7   9:11   

More rural landscape and some more wind here as we came back into the open.   I start feeling annoyed about the fact that everyone suddenly, and for no apparent reason, keeps crossing the road, en masse.  It doesn't seem connected to any strategy of running the tangents.  Feel like a lemming for following, but there is safety in numbers and some of these cars are going pretty fast.  


8   8:49  

Another good mile. I try to focus on staying in the moment, staying relaxed and enjoying the beautiful countryside. 


Splits got off here … pieces of mile 9 & 10:  10:24, 8:53, 8:59, 9:00   

 After the 8 mile marker there is a water station that we see twice as we venture out and back, a mile each way, on a little country road (very few cars here).  I was going to hit lap for the water stops to get an accurate picture of my splits and the amount of walking I was doing, but forgot to hit lap again and got off the exact mile.  Now I wonder if my confusion resulted from the dislike I always have for this out-and-back. (I've run this race 3 or 4 times.)  Last night I tried to think of something on which to focus to make it less dreadful, but didn't really come up with anything.  In general, out and back races don't bother me.  But this one spur always does.  Finally, settled on "this will make me stronger," and that seemed to help.  Still hated it though.  This is the point at which the race became hard for me, the point at which my inner coward starts saying, "What the heck are you doing here?" and "Wouldn't it be nice to stop?"


11   9:54 

Long hill in this mile.  It's funny, but even though the mile split is slower, I didn't have any mental problems here.  In years past I have walked parts of this hill, but I felt great just chugging up it (thank you, Leg Builder Hill!!)  and I felt very peaceful and satisfied.  


12   8:43  

After the big hill, we get a few "rollers," and at this point I made a decision to really push the last two miles.  I wondered how much I had left.  I began pumping my arms and pretended I was in a much shorter race.  


13   8:32 

Lungs are burning, legs feeling weak.  Fun-o-meter tanking.  Aided by a slight downhill and then mostly flat.  Telling myself to just hold on and keep pushing a little bit further…  


Last .1   7:49  

Uphill w/ short flat bit at the finish, as in years past. Running like crazy  to get across that finish line in under 2 hours, now that I see I can make it.  Ah! Did it!  My second ever sub 2 half marathon!   I see AuntieEm and she is volunteering at the finish line. She puts the medal on me (the first year this race has given out medals). 


Post race thoughts and impressions…  


I think I ran quite well.  But I also feel like I can run faster.  This past year, as I've been making progress -- but also getting older -- it's sometimes hard to know where I'm going with racing.  Today I felt like I was running right on the edge - right where I should run for this distance, but also that with time and a continuation of my current training I could go a bit faster.  I'm never going to be a push-yourself-til-you-puke kind of racer because I simply don't want to be. I just feel like I have a little more to develop, even at 51 years old, so that with the same effort level I will go a bit faster.  

 I'm just 7 weeks from Napa Valley Marathon. That will be another little test to see if I can shave off some minutes.  Newport in June. And between now and June, just more of the same training: my beloved long runs on the weekend, tempo runs and hill repeats one week, intervals the next.  And Leg Builder Hill, my mean but helpful friend on most Saturdays. 

 

Comments
From Carolyn in Colorado on Sat, Jan 16, 2010 at 22:15:06 from 24.8.167.243

Congratulations on your sub 2-hour finish and especially some awesome speed at the end. Great job!

I enjoyed your race report. I don't know how you can remember the detail of each mile like that. I tend to be in a fog most of the time.

From JD on Sat, Jan 16, 2010 at 22:55:25 from 166.128.25.122

Awesome race! Love to see you push yourself to those faster paces! Congrats on the sub 2. Sounds like a nice race.

From Bonnie on Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 01:48:50 from 72.254.56.110

Congrats Sno!! great job! I knew you had it in you!

From april27 on Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 10:17:52 from 99.188.251.180

Yes I love your mile by mile. I try to do that even with my training runs and by the time I get home I forget it all! LOL Congrats on your second sub 2 1/2 marathon!

From CookieLegs on Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 10:39:11 from 71.36.81.229

Congratulations! I really enjoyed reading your mile by mile accounting, and greatly admire the way you sped up for the last couple miles! Very inspiring!

From Snoqualmie on Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 12:44:55 from 24.18.192.33

Thanks, everyone.

I think I was able to remember more mile-by-mile details because I've become so familiar with this course.

From Dale on Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 12:58:16 from 69.10.215.11

Nice job on the sub-2! Next thing you're on Leg Builder thinking about how much it sucks, remember today!

From Snoqualmie Ridge Runner on Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 13:19:25 from 24.17.108.253

I like to call Leg Builder hill Thigh Buster or Lung Buster hill... but to each his/her own 8-)!

Very impressed with those last two miles and under 2 hours...Excellent work!

From montelepsy on Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 15:00:45 from 155.85.58.253

Do you take notes while you run? Sheesh.

Nice work, by the way.

From Metcalf Running on Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 16:30:06 from 97.126.137.68

Great Race!!! Impressive time! Love reading your race reports.

From nicole on Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 16:52:39 from 67.170.27.155

CONGRATULATIONS! Way to go! Great time!

From Snoqualmie on Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 17:37:32 from 24.18.192.33

Hey Nicole! When are you going to show up at one of these local gigs so we can meet you? Great half-m here in Snoqualmie in May!

From Smooth on Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 11:17:05 from 174.23.232.65

LOVE reading your mile by mile. THAT was an AWESOME strong finish!!! CONGRATS on sub-2. I love your post race thoughts and impression. I have similar thoughts concerning where I'm heading in terms of racing goals! THANK YOU for sharing! You are a great runner...staying injury free and improving all the while. GOOD LUCK with your marathons this year!!! :)

From Mark on Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 13:33:04 from 24.129.132.74

Great job Sno!

Looks like a nice improvement over this course last year.

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