Grand Island Half Marathon - Race Recap
Why the delay with posting about this race?
I don't know, I raced it about how I thought I would... which is better than I thought I would, 6 weeks ago! That is a relief.
Overall: I'm pretty happy with my performance, it was a little below average for my spring times.
More specifically: I'm a little disappointed, I won't lie. It's not by much, but this is my slowest half time. And, this course would be a really great one to really push myself and try to PR, if I could get my crap together and be aptly trained for it! :)
Then looking back at pictures, blahhh. I am not happy with how I look!
So, the combination of fat and sluggish, maybe that has been my posting trouble!
Fat and slow, fat and slow, can you sing that to the tune 'Hot and Fun?' :)
My past few running post have shown some frustration. This training season has started slow. It's been a looong winter, I got sick, and I just have had a hard time rockin it.
I think I'd done a couple of speed w/o and just one tempo at the beginning of the season, but that was it.
My long runs had been pacing in the 8s. Not a happy thing for me!
My shorter runs have finally gotten back to where I like to pace and I have been feeling good about that.
The week prior to the race I did a pretty good tempo run. I had a good pace mile 4. This is where I like my middle 3-4 to be, just to give you some perspective. Those middle miles are not so lovely! But I needed mile 4, to remind myself of what I can do!
The Friday prior to the race I ran 13. I was happy with that time. I debated tapering for this race. I'd been doing 10 - 12 miles for long runs. I chose not to taper. I may have been able to race just a bit better had I tapered, but oh well! I think it was more important for me mentally to have this long run, than it was for me physically not to do it.
Week of the race I ran pretty easy, a couple of 5 milers, one 4 miler with some speed spurts. I was pretty relaxed about this race. Just taking in where I am right now and running because I love it.
So, there is my lead up to the Grand Island Half.
Friday Molly and I went to pick up our packets. The long sleeve top is totally appropriate for spring running in Buffalo, also appropriate are heavier weights!
Our forecast for race day was amazing for us! The high for the day was supposed to be 70. Way warm for us! I planned to run in a tank and shorts, it was beautiful and sunny!
I love that this race begins at 9 am! I don't have to wake up early! :)
The other thing that is nice is the start is in the Beaver Island State Park parking lot.
You can put your stuff in the car and your are ready to start!
We took a pic, found our other buddies, took another pic, then I put my stuff in the car!
So proud of these ladies for sticking to it and running the 10k!
I didn't want to make the same mistake as last year, so I found my Garmin signal early. It still took some time, though, and I was nervous I wouldn't have it to start... again!
I blew kisses to these gals then crept up to near the front-ish.
That is one negative of this race, the people dodging. I wish they'd have signs or something so we could organize ourselves just a little bit.
As the race began I ran to the extreme edge to get past runners.
Here are my splits for the race...
I felt good and the first couple of miles through the race I saw a couple of fellow runners and slowed a little to chat for a minute. Of course that doesn't help your time either!
It was in mile 4, I think, that this cute little gal paced next to me. I felt pretty cool that this little 20-something gal wanted to keep pace with me! Until we started talking! I was at race pace, not talking pace! She apparently was at talking pace!
We chatted a bit anyway, it's hard to keep tempo and talk!
Then I saw my cute family! I love them! I love that I can see them so many times on this course! They even ran with me for a minute!
Christina was my buddies name.
I have to say, as hard as it was talking I really have been starved of running comradarie so I was all about running with this gal! We kept great time together, holding each other steady.
It was at the water stop around 6 that we split. I needed to slow through that water stop. My previous ones I kept trotting and missed much of my hydration! I needed G-rade in my system!
At the turn around they had fuel. I was glad.
I didn't train with fuel, and not much hydration, actually. I needed and appreciated the fuel.
I break this distance out to an 8 mile and 5 mile run mentally.
After I hit the 8 I'm like yea, now just 5! Then through mile 10 I'm like, the finish is so far!!!
After I finish 10 I feel home free, only 2 more to go!
Those two more were tough and I slowed a little. I even stopped to catch my breath at 1.5 to go! See, a little disappointing.
At about a mile out I saw Melissa and Andrea. It was good to hear cheering!
At about .50 left I saw Molly and Erin! Molly ran me in! I loved it!
I didn't check my camera before I left. Matt doesn't play with my settings. I had some over exposed pics!
I finished at 1:42:18 (7:49 pace)
9 overall female and 3rd in age group
I'm so glad all these ladies ran! I'm so proud of Molly and Melissa. They finished 2nd and 3rd in their age group! They were pumped. It feels great to perform well and achieve!
I love my family! Love them supporting me and cheering for me!
They took off for home and the gals and I headed to get our awards! Yahoo!
They might just start to enjoy racing now!
