Hooleys to Hooleys Half Recap and Work/Life Stuff

Hooley’s to Hooley’s Half- Sunday 3/17/13

Finish Time: 1:39:37

5th Female overall

1st in AG! (This was a small race)

~

After a whole lot of shenanigans the day before the race (hubby’s birthday party) I am lucky this race even happened. Seriously. Pretty sure I tweeted that the race was going to be more like a walk for me.

It’s all fun and games until the alarm goes off at 4:15 a.m.

Sunday morning came and I overslept the alarm by 45 min. I thought I hit snooze, but I hit off. Awesome. When I woke up I went into normal I am late panic mode.  Always a good time at the BCOD. I inhaled oatmeal (literally, I didn’t taste it), got dressed and made the hour trek down to the start.

High quality cell phone pic. St. Patty’s green in full effect.

So glad my friend Maureen was running because if we had not planned on meeting up, chances are I would have stayed in bed. Mo, thanks for holding me accountable, even if you didn’t know you did 🙂

After a short warm up we lined up at the start. Since I saw the field was small I made my way near the front. Figured less weaving would conserve the little energy I had. It felt like we were standing around fo-eva when they announced we would be delayed 15 min due to road closures. Bed was sounding better and better 🙂

I decided I wasn’t going to warm up again and stood and talked with Mo. During this little lag I also got to meet Melissa and her sweet friend Amy! We talk a lot on twitter, but this was the first time we got to meet. So fun!

We finally got word we were starting and the gun went off. I basically hurt the entire race.

We started with a nice flat for maybe a mile and then began a 2.5 mile or so uphill trek. Mo warned me of the uphill but I didn’t think it would be as tough as it felt. Kathy Loper loves giving runners a challenge.

At mile 3 we started a downhill. I usually love the downhill to make up time and recover. Yeah, the recover part didn’t happen but I did make up a little bit of time.

I took a gel and looked around and saw that I was all alone. I have never been totally solo during a race. It was so quiet and lonely. I knew the turn around was at 6.5 or so and that I would see other runners. I also knew it meant going back uphill. Son of a !!

I saw Mo around mile 8? She told me I was 5th female and that was pretty awesome. Never thought I’d hear those words in my life time! One would think that news would push me to go harder. I tried, but I just couldn’t get going any faster. Getting up that last incline at mile 10 hurt.

As I crested the last hill a guy on a bike told me to pick it up and try pass the 2 females ahead of me. I finally had them in my sight but my tank was empty. I gave it all I had left to the finish!

I had .16 at the end instead of .10. Ooops on the tangents. Mile pace for the last .10 was 6:47.

I crossed in 1:39:37.

Maureen finished in 2:04 (she is getting so close to breaking 2!!) and we stayed and waited for the award ceremony. It was neat to hear my name being called as 1st in my AG. I got my little glass mug, said goodbye to Maureen and headed home.

This was a really tough race for me. Physically and mentally. My stomach was sloshy from start to finish, but more than anything I was just drained. I could have just given up. At one point (mile 10) I really wanted to. In the worst way! Instead I talked myself through that last crappy climb and gave it all I had. I am so glad I didn’t quit. That would have been easy.

I was talking to my hubby last night about how awesome it is to see not only myself, but others that I have come to know improve with each race. We get out of running what we put into it. Training smart, taking care of ourselves and having faith that we CAN do it is huge come race day. I am proof of that.

~

So what’s next? I am running Carlsbad 5000 and the La Jolla Half in prep for the Ojai Mountains to Beach Marathon. I will be doing a lot of training with my dear friend and we are planning on a strong race come May 26th. We have approximately 8 weeks to do.work.

I can’t wait.

~

So what about Chicago? After a lot of talking, a lot of researching and a lot of prayer we have decided not to go.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7)

We are trusting that this is the right decision. My hubby just started down a new path in his career and it’s his turn to shine. While I am keeping my career plans mum (for obvious reasons, I don’t know who may be creeping around the interwebz), I am really excited to get spend some time with the kids. I have been working since I was a kid and I don’t know any other way. It’s time for me to devote myself to my family. I can’t wait to see what HE has in store for us. I think a lot of good change is in our future.

So there you have it. Now that you all know I will be loitering here in SoCal it’s time to focus back on MIL. She needs our prayers more than ever. Her birthday is coming up on April 2nd and we want her to be able to enjoy it! 

If you are the praying kind please include Kay. We appreciate it more than you will ever know!

~

OK, I’m off to run (literally) to my son’s baseball game and enjoy the afternoon with the family. Hello Pizza Port, I will see you in a few hours for grub. No really. Pizza party will be happening.

Anyone racing this weekend? What else has been going on since we talked last week?!

~

Time On Your Tootsies

I want to thank each of you that sent me an email regarding the passing of my aunt. While I haven’t responded to each one yet I most certainly will. We all go through ups and downs in life and being able to share and comfort one another is so important. My Auntie Dee was a RIOT. While there will no doubt be tears at the upcoming service there will be a LOT of laughter too. She wouldn’t want it any other way.

~

For the first time since Chicago I ran 50 miles last week. I managed one solid tempo, several easy runs (lets talk about easy runs in a minute) and 2 long runs. I ended the week with Chacha and Pam at the SD Half Marathon.

Pam ran a smart, strong and fast race. It was so much fun to cheer her on and watch her finish. She is going to do so well in Boston! I wish I could share with you all of the funny stuff that happened that morning. For some reason when I type out the stories they just don’t bring the comedy. I will tell you this: there is a cop in town that must think Chacha and I are the two biggest idiots on the planet. I blame it on the time change. Or the fact that we are hilarious. Probably a little of both.

Back to running.

This week is a back down week since I am running a half marathon on Sunday.  So far I have managed two easy 4 milers and a 6 mile tempo. I will likely run one more 4-5 miler at an easy pace and that will be it.

I mentioned above that my 50 mile week included a lot of easy runs. Fact is most of my weeks include easy runs. Several of them. Slowing down has made training for races much more enjoyable (running is fun!) and way more effective. 

Getting ready for 13.1 or 26.2 means preparing my mind and body to do work for a few hours. If I ran every single run at race pace (or faster) I wouldn’t be doing myself any good. Not only would I likely be injured, I’d be burned the heck out. Some people call easy runs junk miles. I call them practice. 

Once I learned to slow down on my easy days and go hard on fast days it all started coming together. I saw my race times improve a LOT. A good friend of mine told me that once I figured it out I would have a race breakthrough. And I did. 

So how do you know if you are running too fast too often? How can you be certain you need to slow down your long run? Easy.

If your training pace is faster than your race pace it’s time to slow down.

Hit the breaks! Long runs are meant to build endurance. It’s all about time on your tootsies. Your long run pace should be easy enough that your form doesn’t fail and you enjoy it. You should be able to hold a conversation without sounding like your gasping for air. I know you know what I’m talking bout (Hi-breath-I-breath-am-breath-running-breath-too-breath-fast….)

Slowing down your long run doesn’t mean it’s going to be a cake walk. The miles aren’t changing, just the pace.  

So how is it done?

1. Make a conscious effort. It may take some getting used to but you can do it. If you find yourself going too fast stop, take a second, and start again. Remind your self that it’s a training run, not a race.

2. Follow a training plan. Yes, a real one. Pencil in your easy runs and stick to them. When you write it down you are more likely to do it.

3. Find a friend or group to run with. Not only is it fun, having someone to hold you accountable helps tremendously.

If for some reason your inner racer is still bursting at the seems throw in a few strides. That should help get your ya-yas out. 

Remember, you have plenty of opportunities to run fast during the week that will have you ready to race. Give yourself the chance to recover by slowing down your long run. Your body and your mind will thank you.

~

Anyone else participating in a St. Patrick’s Day race?

~~ Good luck to all of my friends running the LA Marathon on Sunday!!

Manduka Winner and Birthdays

The winner of the Manduka eQua towel is…

suzy says:

February 24, 2013 at 4:24 am

I am inspired by my kids, my parents and all the other working mamas like myself who amazingly manage to get it all done!

Congrats Suzy! Please email your info to hauterunningmama@gmail.com so that I can get your towel to you 🙂

..

It’s March. This week is a back down week for me so mileage is low. Just how I like it 🙂

We have little league opening day tomorrow but more importantly there are a zillion birthdays in my fam this month. Yup, we are ruled by Pisces.

Let’s start with today. The 1st. Time to celebrate the birth of this awesome guy

Happy 32nd Birthday baby brother

Thank you for being there for me for, well, almost my entire life. Looking forward to celebrating all month long 🙂 

In 3 days my Mermaid turns 4

Little Thumbelina is growing up way to fast!

Good thing she has a tough big bro to look after her

And then a few week later LD will blow out candles. He refuses to let me tell you his age. Hit him with your best shot…

Any of you celebrating a birthday this month? Anniversary? Promotion? Races?!

– My birthday is in April but my anniversary is this month! Add it to the list of awesome