Yesterday was The North Face Endurance challenge half marathon and 10k (the 50 miler, 50k, marathon and marathon relay were the day before).

This was my first mountain race and my third half marathon attempt.  My friend Liza and I signed up for it together when we found out that it would be the inaugural North Face Endurance Challenge event in MA.   What fun to be a part of the first event!  Except, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into.



Liza and I went to preview the course 2 weeks ago.  The preview served only to sober my thinking on the whole endeavor [and strike some fear deep in my bones].  I'm getting more comfortable with trail running but I don't have regular access to a mountain (nor the desire to run up a mountain) which made training for this race hard.  After previewing the course, I considered dropping out of the event entirely but pressed on to do the half solely for the experience and threw all race goals (except to not get hurt) out of the window.  I knew it would be a difficult day.  Liza had decided earlier on in the year to drop down in distance to the 10k because of her rehab.

Race Day
We left Boston at 5:30 am and after a brief stop at Dunkins, arrived at the mountain at 6:45 am.  Liza and I spent some time eating in the parking lot and getting our stuff together and taking pictures with some of our other friends who were running the races.   The half marathon started at 8 and the 10k started at 9.  I was the only one of the group attempting the half marathon that morning so at 5 to 8 I hugged everyone goodbye and trotted over to join the wave 3 group at the start line.

After all the anticipation built up from the course preview, the course on race day didn't seem that bad.  I think Liza and I may have only previewed the toughest trails!  It took me a while to get my legs to wake up but once I did, the rhythm was good.  The first two miles were on a lot of dirt roads.  We had some long inclines which I walked most of but it still I was managing to keep the pace okay.  Things started to fall apart for me early, however, when I twisted my ankle at a really technical part around 2.5 miles.

I felt and heard the twist and immediately had to sit down on the trail.  I sat for only about a minute assessing the injury and my options.  I was actually enjoying the race and I didn't think the twist was that bad so turning back was barely a thought.  It was only 2 miles to the first aid station so continue on obviously... you can do anthying for 2 miles!  When I got to the aid station at 4.6 miles on the course, however, the EMTs were just leaving to respond to another injury.  I sat there a bit while the aid station volunteers tried to find something to wrap my ankle with but then ultimately couldn't find anything.  I decided to carry on until the summit aid station (mile 7.1) which had a bit more support.  What's another 2.5 miles?  I still didn't want to stop at that point but little did I know the push to the summit would be way harder than anything Liza and I previewed a couple weeks ago.

This picture shows the first section of the big climb up to the summit.  That look, dear friends, is exhaustion, disbelief, and a little bit of runners high maybe.  I had covered about 6 miles at that point, my ankle was bothering me, and it was a full hands and feet experience to get up that thing.  The picture just doesn't do it justice.

Unfortunately, that push was going to be my last.  My ankle was starting slow me down [especially on the downhill] and I started to feel dizzy on the second big steep climb and stopped a couple of times to sit on/lean against the trail and catch myself.  It was hard and I was tempted to take the paved summit road up to the top but I stuck with the official course.

It took a long time, but I finally reached the summit and immediately sat down to get my ankle taped.  It was confirmed.  I had sprained it.  The aid station workers were terrific and took care of me well.  I had pretty much been running on adrenaline on a sprained ankle for almost 5 miles...up and down a mountain.  Once I sat down and had some time to think while being helped, I knew it wasn't going to be wise to continue the race.  I had reached that aid station at about 2 hours and 15 minutes and only had about 1 hour 45 minutes to complete the rest of the course, I knew that if I continued on I would have to do that climb up to the summit again which took a ton of time on the first go, and I didn't think I could handle the descents well enough to make up for the time I was losing on the climbs.  Descending is my strength and the sprained ankle made moving fast out of the question.  Also, once I stood up from having my ankle taped it was really hard to put pressure on the foot.  The adrenaline that got me to the top of that mountain was beginning to wear off.  

I reported to the aid station captain that I was dropping and opted to take the ski lift down outta there.

My first ski lift ride. Sad to drop but excited by the fun experience.
So salty!

Ski lift ride down. Thanks for the ride, Wachusett!

Everyone has at least one drop some time in their lives right?

I was a little disappointed to have to drop out of the race but I think it was the right choice.  My goal race is the TARC Spring Classic 50 miler in the fall so I don't want to do anything stupid that could potentially take me out for a long time and affect my training for that race.  Even with the DNF (did not finish) I had a better time at this mountain race than I thought I would.  Don't get me wrong, I am pretty sure I will never sign up for another one again ever in my life...it's just not my cup o' tea...BUT I didn't hate it.  :)  More power to you mountain runners out there.  It is tough.  You are tough.  I will stick to hiking and/or running the flat trails.  <3

Icing my ankle at the finish line aid station while waiting for Liza and friends to finish

Thanks to the North Face race organizers and volunteers for putting on a good event.  I felt safe and well taken care of out there!  

Also, I'm super proud of Liza.  She's been dealing with injury recovery all spring.  Though she hasn't been running much, she was able to complete the 10k course well under cutoff.  Great job, friend!

What about you?

Have you ever attempted a race that was out of your comfort zone?

Have you ever dropped from a race?

Leave a comment below.  I'd love to hear from you!

My favorite part was peeling my contacts off my dehydrated eyes after showering.  Good times.

Group pic with the folks in our carpool

On Saturday, I completed the TARC To Hale and Back 6hr trail race.  While I have volunteered with TARC in the past, this is my first time actually running in a race.  It was a blast!

A snow storm a couple weeks ago made it so that no one really know what the course conditions would be like.As I wrote in my race goals post, my main goal for the day was to have fun and maintain a positive attitude.

I raced both Saturday and Sunday this weekend.  Who am I?

This weekend was perfect, weather-wise...for sitting in the shade on the beach.  

It was a little hot for running.   

Thankfully both races started early and were short.  Saturday morning was my club's relay challenge which began at 8:30am.  I only had to run 1600 meters.  Sunday was a 10k starting at 8am.  Having run a 10k before, I was much more nervous about the 1600.  Running a mile on a track is hard and everyone is watching.  It was okay though. Everyone was so supportive and I beat my goal at both races!

This is going to be a quick one.

A couple weeks ago my friend, Laura and I ran in the Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon.  I've run this race once before in 2011 which was my debut to distance running.  The 2011 race was okay.  I remember getting sick the week before it and being miserable the whole time.  

This race was kinda similar.  I was a little off to start but got through.

Official race photo. cred:Runner Buzz Media

Halfs are not really my thing...  

My year started out with another plan but due to some setbacks early in the year and an ongoing health issue, training for a spring marathon (or ultra as I was originally signed up for) was out of the question. I threw this into the schedule mainly as motivation to keep running. 

The goal:  take it easy and try for even splits.

Somewhere in the back of my head I thought I could maintain an 11:30 min/mile pace for the whole race.  I had been working hard at track and have been getting more consistent with my reps.  On easy runs, my mile times have been in the 11:50-12:30 min/mile range which, though much slower than past years, is a great improvement from this winter and from last year's marathon (avg'ing 13ish pace).  For the shorter faster stuff, I can now get down into the 10's and I have been getting a lot out of our group long runs once a month.

Joining my running group at the track this winter and coaching myself to stay positive has made the world of difference.  For this race, I made the decision to run my own pace and not get distracted by the crowd or what others were doing.  I had some mild abdominal cramping at the start but I was confident that my goal was attainable.  I kept with the plan.  I aimed to walk all the hills and water stops [and smile for all the course cameras].  In the end, I was surprised at how close I was to hitting the 11:30 pace!  Below are my splits.
 

Official race photo. cred:Runner Buzz Media

                    mile 1- 11:22
                    mile 2- 11:19

                    mile 3- 10:55
                    mile 4- 11:57
                    mile 5- 11:08
                    mile 6- 11:36
                    mile 7- 11:39
                    mile 8- 11:19
                    mile 9- 12:12
                    mile 10- 11:24
                    mile 11- 11:53
                    mile 12- 11:24
                    mile 13- 11:03 


 
All things considered, it was a good race.  Perfect cloudy 60 degrees.  Perfect-ish pacing and super sweet race pics. :) 

My friend also had a wicked good race.  We decided to run separately and she finished up in 1:48 something!  Congrats, Laura!

How about you?

How is your race training going?

Have you had to make adjustments in your 2016 race schedule? 

Do you ever plan walk breaks in a race? 

This was a tough one but I finished!

It is kinda hard to believe this was my third marathon.  What a year of injury, recovery, and ramping back up!  I'm not where I'd like to be in terms of marathon performance but this time around was mostly about the experience:  getting myself back out there and putting some miles in.   

I praise God for this experience and keeping me relatively healthy during the process, for all my sweet sweet friends who let me ride their enthusiasm for me and my racing to the start line and beyond, and for my faithful running followers and blog readers who share their experiences and let me learn from them daily!

It's about time I'm sitting down the finish this race report.  So much to say about a race I wasn't supposed to start much less finish. :)

Lots to be thankful for with this one.

I sat this one out this year but I thought I'd post some pictures anyway.  Enjoy.

http://www.jpmorganchasecc.com/index.php

"The best TIME of my life"

Its been a month since the marathon.  Boy, how time flies.  I have been busy relaxing and recovering and slow running and trying to find the rythym again.  I have been doing everything except updating this blog but, alas, I can stall in writing this report no longer.

First of all, thank you to all who have supported me through this process.  All of you!  If you think you haven't done anything, think again.  Even just seeing that some read this blog has been immensely encouraging.  And, most others (basically anyone who has spoken with me in the last 3 months) have listened enthusiatically to more than their fair share of marathon talk.  You guys are great.

A very special thanks to the friends who came to see us race.  It was such a blessing to have you there.  You made the experience extra special.  And, to the greatest running buddy in the whole wide world, you rock!  Can't wait to do it again.  

So here it goes.

The Philly Marathon was awesome.

It was a great time, the race was well organized and Philadelphia is a beautiful city to take a 26.2 mile running tour through.  I highly recommend it for everyone; first time marathoners to seasoned veterans.

Saturday:  The Expo
We arrived at the hotel, dropped off our things, and went almost immediately to the expo.  To our great surprise/relief, the train station, hotel and expo were within a block of each other!  At the expo it was easy to find the race packet and t-shirt pickup stations and the lines moved quickly.  I also had zero trouble moving up my coral to Orange-- I no longer wanted to be in the last (Blue) coral.  I wanted to be in a better position to not finish last.  It was an easy change to make-- I was given a sticker that said "Orange" to place over the spot on my bib that said "Blue"-- easy and that was good.

The vendors and free stuff left a lot to be desired though.  I fully intended to buy a marathon jacket at the expo but by the time we got there they had run out of "normal" sizes of most things.  Only small or gigantic were left.  Boo.  Also, we must have missed the good giveaways because all I noticed was a table giving out pieces of cliff bars.  I really like free so this bugged me.  I think we lasted an hour before we were so over the expo.

Sunday:  Race Day
Race day started early!  Our alarms went off at 5.  I got up ran down to the Wawa across the street from the hotel to get some bananas, a bagel and a yogurt.  I had picked up my customary Vitamin Water Energy the night before.  It's what gets me pumped to race!  Anyway, breakfast was had at a reasonably easy pace.  No need to rush.  We'd be pushing hard the rest of the morning into the afternoon.

The hotel was about a mile and a half from the start of the race so we walked.  It was about 30 degrees and still dark when we set out.  On the way we met a couple of nice guys from Boston; one a first timer.  The atmosphere was so energized even as we were all just walking up the street.

It was easy enough to find my coral, though it took a while to get to it way in the back!  There were some of the longest porta potty lines I've seen anywhere.  I probably waited 20 minutes before it was my turn.  The wait wasn't so bad though.  I made a nice friend who had just taken up running in the last few years after retirement and was running the race, her first marathon, to celebrate her birthday.  Another nice runner helped me shed my layers right before the start.  The race organizers collect discarded clothing left along the course to give to charity.  I wore two extra t-shirts to get rid of. Runners are cool people.

 - -  mile 1

By the time it was my turn to set off (about 28 minutes after the start gun went off) I was was so cold and stiff.  Yikes!  That first mile was uncomfortable.  I had a crick in my left foot that worried me a little.  I knew I'd be warmed up in a couple miles but it was a strange way to start off the race.  I saw the 4:30 pacer and decided to see if I could keep up with that group.  Pace groups are offered so that runners can get help pacing themselves through the marathon.  The leaders are trained to run to finish within a certain pace and time.  Anyone running in the 4:30 group would finish the marathon in  net time of 4 hours 30 min.  This was ambitious for me, but I was feeling excited!

- - miles 2-5

At about mile 2 I realized that I couldn't keep up with the 4:30 pacer. haha I slowed down and let them pass.  Truthfully, my goal was to finish under 5hrs so I knew I had no business with the 4:30's.  I was growing tired of the jostling of those committed to following the pacer anyway.  Psychos.
 I settled into the idea of working up to my own pace.  I saw L's parents at 2.5!  So fun.   It's so good to see friends on the course and it gave me some energy.  By mile 5, the party zone in the old part of town, I was warmed up and had found a good pace.  The pain in my left foot was gone and I had actually caught up with the 4:30's (something I probably paid for in the end but oh well).  I fell in a few paces in front of the pacer himself.  Again, the runners behind him were a little obsessive in their following.  I was much more comfortable just out in front.

- - miles 6-13

I felt great.  Shout out to my friends who were waiting to cheer me on at mile 8.5.  Realizing I hadn't eaten anything yet, I took a quick fruit snack break when I saw them.  I looked back and the pacer balloon was bobbing far behind.  I was probably moving too fast, haha but oh well.   

The hill at mile 9 definitely slowed me down some.  It was a beast and I took my first real stretching break after, at mile 10.  My legs were starting to get stiff.

- - miles 14-17

One of my goals for this marathon was to run through the half marthon without having to stop.  Not only did I do that but I felt super good through mile 16.  I thought I would feel envy when the half marathoners started to break off toward the finish line but I felt great and pumped to keep going.  PTL!

I saw my friends again around 14.5 at the beginning of the long stretch out to Manayunk.  I was still feeling good at that point and still ahead of the 4:30's... That is until I stopped for a power bar break around mile 15.  The 4:30's past me and I didn't have any steam to catch up.  No big deal, I was so excited and distracted at the finishers on the other side of the road.  Crazy fast people.  It's honestly hard to believe it when they're finishing as you're only half way through.  I knew I was using a lot of energy but couldn't help cheering for them.

At mile 17 I had to do some real walking.  There's a little tangent that takes you across the river, down a big hill and then back up.  Silly hill tangent.  I was tired and annoyed and walked back up.

- - miles 18-23

Mile 18-23 was a blur of run/walk, run/walk.  I saw L right before the peeps handing out beer.  She was kicking butt and taking names!  The party in Manayunk lifted my spirits a lot.  Thank you super marathon fans in Manayunk.  The town center was a gigantic party and as tired as I was I couldn't help run-dancing in the street. Woo!  Too bad you basically had to climb your way up to the turn around.  That hill was utterly unwelcome.

- - miles 24-26

This was farther than I've ever gone in my life and I felt every bit of it.  The cramping started around 23.5 and was intesifying with every walk break.  Seriously questioning the wisdom in trying to keep up with the 4:30's.  They were long gone at this point.  At one point I got a cramp so bad in my left quad that the thought flashed through my mind that I might not finish.  A kind older runner came over just as I was pannicking and said, "you just have to keep running" and I said "okay" and started to hobble along.  I was a case and a half at that point and I think I worried some volunteers at the mile 25 rest stop. 

After that momentary freak out I became determined again.  Too close to stop! And, it helped that I knew I still had some wiggle room to come in under 5 hours (even though I was running 12-13 min miles by that point).  I pulled myself together enough just before I saw my friends again at mile 25 and was even able to smile for the camera.  haha

The last mile was the most annoying thing in the world.  The crowds had grown again and everyone kept yelling "you're almost there!", "Go, Cha!".  And I was like, almost there where?  why can't I get there already.  It was nice how many people there were cheering (throngs) but I was ready to be done.

- - last .2

I saw the finish line down the hill, heck yes!  I'm pretty sure I didn't even run that part of the race (maybe I did, I don't know) I was so happy to be done.  I saw that I was going to hit my goal by 10 minutes and I just remember cheering at the top of my lungs, hands raised, praying that my body wouldn't start convulsing once I stopped moving.  The race pictures can attest.  I look like I won the thing.

Crossing the finish line was the best thing.

I felt so happy.  I was cold and tired and broke-down and happy.  It's hard to explain. The foil blanket, the medallion, the warm chicken broth, friends waiting at the end...it was all perfect.

Here's to the marathon.

Yesterday, I took another break from marathon training to run the Tufts Health Plan 10k for Women.  This is my second year running the race and I have been looking forward to it all year.

This was a really good race. 

I woke up Monday morning not feeling the greatest.  So right then after assessing the situation, I decided that I would run but that I would make the day more about having "fun" than breaking any records -- I didn't think I had it in me.  When I got started running however, I felt good.  Around the 2nd mile I thought, "hey, I may be able to do this".

You see, for a year now my goal has been to race a 10k in under an hour.  I'm talking 59:59 or better.  After coming in at 1:01:04 at the BAA 10k back in June, this year's Tufts 10k was my last chance for the year.  I spent most of the summer thinking about it.

I decided that I would carry my water so that I could by pass the water stops.  This really helped shave a few minutes off but in the end what really hurt me was not keeping track of the time.  I had intended to bring my watch to keep track personally but forgot it at home.  The race clocks were really hard to see and I missed half of them which made it really hard to tell how I was tracking.

So my final time?... 01:00:00

Does that even happen!?  One second off of my goal.

There's so much to be said for what happened to that one second-- my spandex were bugging me the whole time...I may or may not have been posing for the cameras along the course, etc, etc.  Let's not dwell in the past... 

Even though I didn't make my goal, I say this was a really good race because I felt so strong.  I realized around mile 5.5 that I was going to finish the race without stopping once.  I have never raced without stopping.  I've definitely come a long way from last year's 1:07:44 finish!  That one second doesn't scare me.  What it boils down to is this girl will be running another 10k and Lord willing, smashing her goal next time!


http://www.tuftshealthplan.com/tufts10k/index.php

About the Race

I really appreciate how the race is organized and the energized atmosphere on race day.  It's really quite inspiring to run with 6,000 or so other women just celebrating being awesome.  This year the money raised from the race went to support The Family Van.  Here's a little blurb from the Tufts website that explains what that is:

"The Family Van provides compassionate curbside care in urban neighborhoods through its mobile clinics. The Family Van supports preventing screening, testing, and education for thousands of people each year."