Ocean's (not quite a) 1/2 Marathon - Recap

Let me be completely honest, I haven't run long since the 1/2 on October 12th (Newport).  Long to me is 10 or more miles.  I've run a couple 9s, maybe a few days of doubles touched on 8. Seriously, this was at best a training run.  I had a goal of a sub 2 for this 1/2, the first 1/2 of the year.  The training didn't happen so it didn't happen.  Am I upset? No.  Am I disappointed? No.  Am I happy?  Yes, why wouldn't I be?  I smiled across the finish line.  I finished, I didn't call a cab, I had enough fitness, stamina, and gumption to get from the start to the finish, granted it was "only" 12.7 miles it was not 13.1.

Going into this I knew it was going to be a struggle sub 2 hours was off the table.  Even a course PR (2.17) was questionable.  I set my goals as such:

A)  1 hour after Muddy (who I also predicted would win)

B)  2:30

C)  Don't call a cab

D) Don't Die

Ok so how did Muddy get wrapped up in this whole thing?  The first time I ran this I was in decent condition, I think I am a bit fitter now, although I am two years older and nearly 10 lbs heavier - shit happens with these cold winters, don't judge.   2013 Mike Galoob won at 1:17 and I was 2:17.  Completely arbitrary.   It worked for me.

I dropped back to 2:30 because it is a nice 'round' number, very curvy!

Rhode Island has had snow, wicked feet of snow, it was not going anywhere.  This bunged up the start and finish line.  Kinda hard to start and end on a field when that, and all the rest of the fields resembled those in "Fargo" - you know the one where Steve Buscemi's character, Carl Showalter, buried the briefcase of cash by a fence and put a red ice scraper as a marker. 

Snow covered, and while there wasn't 'blizzard fencing' there were stone walls (New England has more stone than they know what to do with - walls everywhere).  I vowed if I did see a red ice scraper I was digging for the brief case of cash, because yeah, that could happen!!

The roads, for the most part, were clean, there were spots of ice and snow, mostly easy to get around.

Because of all this snow the ample parking was not so and we were asked to carpool, cars of 3 would be allowed to park in the close lot.  Being one who really does like to follow the rules I arranged to meet up with Jennifer and Angie, to make 3 to a car to get to the closer lot.  As we pulled in and saw cars of 1 I was annoyed, really?  But Kathy said, cars of 3.  The three of us went a bit out of our way to meet up to be a car of three.  Grrrrr....  my only bitch.

The course is nice, three out and backs where you can see the front runners.  Saw the guys and gals from my track club for the first one.  The second one, my pace slowed and I only caught a glimpse of Mikey and Shara as they floated by.

Jennifer caught up with me at Mile 4 and said "Momma this isn't like you."  I wished her well and assured her there was a porta potty at the end of this road, there was but damn the road was longer than either of us thought!  And chased her down the road.

We were coming on the third time we'd pass the front runners on an out and back.

Thing was there was a 30 minute head start for those figuring on a 3 hour finish, nice thing for Kathy to add, this started to get confusing at this point in the race when I saw people coming towards me that were definitely slower than my pace.  Hmmm did I make a wrong turn?

Eventually I saw Muddy, looking solid, but I wasn't sure if he was in first or second.  He was certainly working hard.  Along comes Gazelle, The Illustrious Seth, Mikey, and Shara.

About mile 7 water stop I started stopping and chatting with the volunteers.  Why not, right?  Gave me a break and perhaps entertained them? Perhaps not?


I had a porta potty break at mile 11, it wasn't going to wait.  Did make the last mile feel much better though, why hadn't I done this earlier????   

At the end of the day it was a fun race, I live in a beautiful area and am happy to run these roads for fun or competition, well more for fun.  I need to work on the competition part!!

As we were walking back to Jennifer's car Angie announces this was her first Half Marathon!   What a secret to keep!  We had not only not dying and not calling a cab but a first to celebrate.  We met up with some friends (Don and Steve) at the Rathskeller in Charlestown, lured by a free beer (it was bud light, Steve and I passed and opted for a Berkshire Brewing Company Coffee Nitro Porter (my favorite) and a bottle of J Lohr Cab for Don, Jennifer and Angie to split.  Hmmmm, guess we did call a cab, ha ha ha ha.... yeah that was reaching.

The swag was nice a soft cotton long sleeved shirt and a pint glass!

Oh and I finished in 2:25:59, and Muddy in 1:13:46 he came in second by seconds.  Full Results Here.  I met B,C,D goals.  I'll call that a win and enjoy drinking a nice porter or stout from the pint glass.  Or maybe water? Maybe I should work on losing the beer gut!

Sincerely,
Beth, first long race of the season, done, benchmark for the rest set!

PS the beer tasted better than water...

Weekly Recap 3/2 - 3/8 (final)

	Run	Walk	Bike	Notes
2-Mar		2.0	12
3-Mar	8.4
4-Mar		2.6
5-Mar	3.2
6-Mar		2.4
7-Mar	5.1	4.8
8-Mar	12.7	2.9

Monday - snow, so no TRX.  Took a spin class at lunch and walked Gizzy when I got home.  The spin class was good.  Come March 30th I'm going to be regretting not getting on the trainer after a 43 mile ride.  Oh well....  Guess my ass and I will have to come to terms with the ass/saddle torture, or I get on the trainer.

Tuesday - Triple Tuesday - 5ish outside and 3 ish on the treadmill capping off the snowy night with a yoga class.  Tuesday night music bingo at Fat Belly's was cancelled due to the snow.  It was not a fun drive home from Coventry.  I'm constantly amazed at how terrified people are behind the wheel.  Get off the road, pretty please!!

My run outside I never felt like I got moving in any rhythm or pace or something.  Just felt sloggy and like I was running through cornstarch and water or Jell-o or pudding.  It was very weird, not tiring, weird.  My suffer score was 68 with most of my heart rate in Zone 2.  Obviously I wasn't working very hard.  Interestinglyr I've never been able to manage a run with the majority in the Z2 with a little in Z3 area.  Maybe this is a sign of fitness.  I did feel like I could keep plodding, yes, that was it, I felt plodding but not like I was slogging, anyhoodles like I could keep on keeping on for another lap around campus and the golf course.  Weird.  

Jennifer and I met up for some intervals on the treadmill before Yoga. I warned her she needed to keep me honest.  The tables were definitely turned!  She managed pretty well, I have some more teaching to do about being a pain in the ass.   She did do a great Karen impression about my general mood.

 (I liked this MUCH better, Dave usually asks me "What's your malfunction? - IKR, it is amazing we are still married -- then again he is married to a smart ass and you give as good as you get!)

About half way through I started losing a little of the 'frump' as she called it.  Yoga helped immensely.  Missing chicken bacon ranch pizza and music bingo definitely sucked.

Wednesday - I had hoped to get to the gym for some speed work.  I did get out of going to NY for my performance review, and really had high hopes for the 6 hours of commute time I saved.  Of course the day collapsed in on me and I started feeling like Stretch Armstrong. 

I never did get to the gym, it was a nice lunch hour to run outside too, the rain stopped briefly and it was warm.  I did get a lot of actual work done, so there is that.  Oh yeah, and I got a nice little award for some work I've been doing, that always helps to make a day a bit better.

Walked Gizzy when I got home.  My grouchy old man, I love him so.   It will be tough when his time is up, for me and for both Dave and I.  For now, we both enjoy him and all that is The G.

Thursday - Snow was predicted to be all day and it did snow all day, big fluffy flakes, 6 inches is what Dave predicted, we were 8 inches by the time all was said and done.  He took the afternoon to push most of the snow off the porch roof.  It wasn't in danger of collapsing, more danger of once this crap starts to melt it is going to slide very easily off the copper roof and go BOOM, with our luck it would be on someone, like the postman or the UPS guy or Gizzy.

I had a nice short run to the beach and back in the snow globe.  It will most likely be the last for this winter.  Again I felt like I couldn't get into a rhythm and my 'suffer score' on Strava was low.  It didn't feel like I was working hard at all, so I was glad for that confirmation from Strava based on my heart rate.   It really was beautiful.  I didn't listen to my music much.  There is one portion where there is a river to the right and a golf course to the left and that day a father and daughter were playing hide and seek.  There aren't any places to hide, just one tree.  It was fun to watch them having fun chasing each other.  Made me smile.  Then I happened upon a guy walking his golden retriever.  That dog was having a BLAST jumping into snow banks and routing around then jumping back into the sidewalk and repeating the process.  Anyone who says animals don't play or have feelings or know how to have fun really doesn't know animals.  I nearly stopped to play with this pup he was having such a grand time and his hoomin was laughing right along with his antics.  Warmed my heart!  Once I got back on the main road I did put the music back on.  I can't get enough of "Red Solo Cup".

Dave shoveled the walk once, and I got night duty so I could get my car in the driveway. Really easy shovel, he did the heavy lifting.   My poor metal chicken, Whimsey, is nearly drowned in snow.  Poor girl.  Puff, the dragon (what else could he be called?) I won't see till spring.  I love that I have friends who enjoy buying me 'yard art' and a husband whose not the least bit phased by it.  I am very sad my lighted dragon, Larry, was stolen by some juvenile delinquents.  

Friday -  I should have known.  I'm the green on the right.

Got to Misquamicut and well, we ended up at The Malted Barley.   Neither of us are up for any awards, do this for a living, or are going to win a race where actual turtles are the competition, it was cold, it was Friday,  The Malted Barley was the better option!

Saturday - Pick up bib for Sunday's 1/2 maybe snow shoe, maybe run, who knows.  I'm looking forward to sleeping past 7 a.m.  doubtful that will happen, well unless I drug the dogs.

There was no sleeping in past 7.

After coffee I went out for a run, 5 miles.  Zigging and zagging to avoid the un-shoveled walks and dodging cars, I'm getting tired of this.  Felt good after I was done.

Dave and I went snow shoeing out in Burlingame for a few miles.  I wanted to see the ridge in the snow, it is so pretty.  We meandered around for 2.2 miles and it was as beautiful as I remembered from the last big snow, the snow shoes are nice, keep you up a bit from post-holing into the deep snow!

Sunday - Ocean's Run 1/2 marathon - the only goal is do not die.  I didn't get in the long runs, I did get in the speedwork.  I'm 1/2 way there.  It is supposed to be nice and sunny and maybe warm...  I'll enjoy the race and if I best my 2:17 PR I'm good, if I finish an hour after the winner (Muddy, run slow) I'll also be good. What really happened?  RECAP HERE


Sincerely,
Beth, who does this running stuff for fun and to, hopefully, live a little more mobile as she ages and, yeah, eat and drink.  And wondering who actually gets her pop culture references....

published 3/6

February is a wrap

Holy cow, February is over, the weather set many records, yours truly?  Not a one, at least not one that comes to mind quickly!

Two weather records that come to mine are:  32 inches of snow in 28 days with an average temp of 18F. 

I logged a surprising 91 running miles and a measly 14 walking miles.  Poor Gizzy, I can definitely see the impact 25% of the usual miles he gets has had on him both physically and mentally.  Amazing what exercise does for living creatures.  

In the beginning of our walks he has troubles lifting his leg to pee, the first 1/2 mile he tips over occasionally.  Poor old guy.  By the end he can lift either leg and wiz.  There really is something to this exercise stuff!  Plus he sleeps so much better.  He has lost pretty much all of his hearing and he has been grumbling a lot more.  Perhaps this is to make a noise he can feel or hear, we aren't sure.  Dave reports Gizzy'z waking up and shifting in bed and grumbling are far and few between the days he did get a walk.  I know I sleep better with some exercise, not too much mind you, a particularly heavy day and I sleep like crap.  Of course when I do sleep I sleep like the dead tetrised in between three dogs all snuggly and comfy.

Nahhhhhhh!!!

Otherwise what is there to say about February?  It is over...  on to March, and maybe a thaw?  please?  pretty please with sugar on top?  (yeah yeah, Gru says "The physical appearance of the please makes no difference.")

Sincerely, 
Beth, who used to hate February, now is indifferent towards the month