June 8, 2014 - Stanley Park Seawall Run

As I mentioned earlier - I love running on vacation - here is a summary of one of my favorite runs from our Alaska Cruise - The Vancouver Stanley Park Seawall run.


The morning started at 5:30 am when Alice woke up and came into the bedroom.  Considering the time change I was happy she slept until 5:30 am and my alarm was set for 5:45am to get up for my run so I wasn’t going to complain.  I got dressed to go for my run.  I started with my running skirt, short sleeve shirt and long sleeve shirt figuring it was cooler than it was.  I walked outside and it was already warm so I turned around and went back to the room and left the long sleeve shirt behind.  It was a few minutes after 6am when I got started on my run.  I headed out along the seawall towards Stanley Park.

When I got to the park I could see the 2 cruise ships that were in port today arriving.  There was a HAL and Celebrity Cruise ship today.  I continued along the seawall stopping for a few pictures along the way.  The following are some highlights of Stanley Park.  I could have spent a lot of time exploring Stanley Park but I settled for a great run.

Canada Place and 2 ships coming in.

 I finally figured out the proper way to do an Eddie McCoy Selfie :)

 Stanley Park Totem Poles

The 9 O'Clock Gun

Girl in Wet Suit

 Lion's Gate Bridge

 Lighthouse

 Siwash Rock

 Trailhead Markers

 Laughing Guy Statues.  

Success - 9.25 miles in less than 2 hours - perfect long run training pace, especially when you add in picture taking time.  I even got in a little bit of a hill workout.  What a great way to start off a vacation.

Next up Vancouver Hop on Hop Off and Aquarium

Megan's First 5k

On Saturday May 31, 2015 Megan ran her very first 5k.  Last summer I ran the Run or Dye race with some friends and Megan and Alice came to watch.  Megan really wanted to run the race the next year so when the registration opened up in December I signed us both up.

True confessions - this is not my favorite type or race.  I'd much rather run a race with timed corrals but I did this for her.  I also ran 5 miles in the morning before the race so I was not trying to run this for a personal record of any kind.  

It rained on the way to the race which was a good thing as it cooled it off just a little bit from what it was earlier in the morning.  It felt cooler for the race than it did at 5:30am when I started my 5 mile training run.

This year we made sure we got there early and got in line so we could be in one of the first couple waves.  This made a huge difference to me on the course crowding.  It also helped that we didn't have to wait around as long in the sun.  As you can see we got precolored and then we were off.

The race was basically a big tour of the parking lot of NRG (aka Reliant) Stadium.  As you can see from the screen shot we made a lot of hairpin like turns in the parking lot, which is enough to render the GPS almost useless.  I'm going to assume the course distance really was 3.1 miles and not the 2.8 miles my Garmin picked up.


I gave Megan my GymBoss to hold onto so she would be in control of the intervals.  I wanted to slow her down at the beginning because I knew that 3 miles was a lot for her to handle.  We started the race off with 30 seconds running and 30 seconds walking.\

Color Zone Time

No cups, they handed out full bottles instead of cups.  

Around the midway point I let Megan decide if she wanted to go faster.  She decided to try a 1:30/:30 interval and then stretched it to 1:30/1:00 so she had more time to drink on the walk breaks.

She struggled a little at the end but she finished her first 5k with a smile on her face in 38:12.  I was very proud of her and had much more fun than I thought I would.

As for the race, I don't know if the threat of storms scared people off but it seemed much less crowded this time around which I appreciated greatly.

Looking for our next 5k adventure together.

Destination Running is more fun

Running on Vacation

There is something very enjoyable about getting to go for a run in a new location, especially when you have beautiful sights to take in during that run.  I will admit that packing my running shoes and gear are likely what pushed me into having to check a bag for our most recent vacation but it was definitely worth every dollar of that checked bag fee.

My husband and I got away for a week to celebrate our 12th anniversary at the beginning of April.  I managed to find time for a few good runs along with some walks on the beach and a few miles at Universal Studios.

My first run took me to my happy place.  I was able to Run Disney without having to pay and arm and a leg in race fees ;).  I dropped my hubby off at the Richard Petty Driving experience for his pre-race training and I got to experience a great run from Cape Cod to Hollywood and Paris.  Where else can you manage that in 48 minutes or so.

Every once in a while you do have to take a #Selfie (I hate that song by the way)

I started my run at the Beach Club

 

Ran by the Swan

 Found my way to Hollywood Studios

If I wanted I'd have made Rope Drop :)  Instead I waved at Mickey

 

I ran down the boardwalk a couple of times and past the lighthouse

I ran by the Dolphin as well

And I found my way to the International Gateway Entrance to Epcot (I could have made rope drop there too)

But I just stopped for a picture of the Eifel Tower instead

 

It was a beautiful day.  It was a little hotter and muggier than I was used to as Spring was still teasing us in Houston at the time.  Even with stops to take pictures around the world, I ran 4.1 miles in 47:41 before having to return to Richard Petty to watch my husband take a spin around the track



Is it bad that my first thought at the track is that I can't wait to run it someday because that means I'm running the WDW Marathon.  :)  2016 - It will happen.  Depending on how things go I might even be a little Goofy in 2016.

 

Other than some time in Downtown Disney that was my time at the World on this vacation, but the fun wasn't over yet.  Next stop Freeport, Bahamas.

 

I couldn't possibly spend a few days on the beach without going for a run now could I?  I will admit running in the sand is hard work.  Your legs feel a bit like lead.  It doesn't help that it was definitely hotter and muggier than I am currently used to, but with these views, who is going to complain.

 

 

It was a slow 3.13 miles as I ran it in 40:06 minutes but I was on vacation after all.

 

We finished the week up with 2 days a Universal before flying home.  I might not have run at Universal, but I definitely got a workout in.  According to my FitBit I still managed to walk over 20,000 steps at Universal.  Single Rider is definitely the way to go when you don't have the kids with you at Universal.  We had fun at Universal but we won't be back until my youngest is about 10 is my guess.  There is just too much there that they are either too short or too young to ride/experience. 

 

I have decided my goal is to see how many places in the world I can get a Garmin map pin by taking a run on vacation.  I'm looking forward to adding pins in Wisconsin, Canada, Alaska, Virginia, San Antonio and destinations unknown in the rest of 2014.

 



 



And the Hip Bones Connected to the Thigh Bone . . .

Dem bones, dem bones, dem running bones. [Skeleton dance.]
Dem bones, dem bones, dem running bones. [Skeleton dance. Move to the right.]
Dem bones, dem bones, dem running bones. [Skeleton dance. Move to the left.]
Doin' the skeleton dance. [Skeleton dance.]
The foot bone's connected to the leg bone. [Point to your foot, then to your lower leg.]
The leg bone's connected to the knee bone. [Point to your lower leg, then your knee.]
The knee bone's connected to the thigh bone. [Point to your knee, then your thigh.]
Doin' the skeleton dance.
The thigh bone's connected to the hip bone. [Point to your thigh, then your hip.]
The hip bone's connected to the backbone. [Point to your hip, then your back.]
The backbone's connected to the neck bone. [Point to your back, then your neck.]


It this case its really more about the muscles and ligaments that are all connected together. The good news is that my hamstring is not in pain anymore, but running earlier this week my knee and calf were very tight.

You know you have young kids when you start singing the Skeleton Dance to yourself well you are running and thinking about how they hamstring and calf are all connected together.

Speaking of singing/music maybe I need to rethink my running play list some. "What is this Feeling?" From Wicked - although a great song is probably not the best song to come on the playlist when running. I probably don't need to think about loathing anything on a rough run.

I've been easing back into my running routine. I'm looking forward to getting back on track, but its been good to have a couple of slow weeks.

I am so happy to have daylight savings time back. I hate losing the hour but I love having daylight in the evening so I can take the kids for a walk to the playground after work. I would be happy to keep daylight savings time year round. Somehow it also makes it feel lighter when I go for a run at night, even going after the sun goes down.

Spring is trying to fight its way into Houston. I'm hoping that we have seen the last of winter for the year. I know it hasn't been that cold in Houston compared to most of the country, but for Houston it has been a very cold winter. I do hope that doesn't mean it will be a miserably hot summer.

The Woodlands Half Marathon - March 1, 2014

I so didn't want to run this race. I probably should have listened to my gut and not run this race but I will get to all of that.

I registered for this race in December of 2013. It was a spur of the moment decision. I was trying to decide on one more half marathon and got an email from someone in my Galloway Running group with a discount code so I signed up. It was a "local" race the first of March so it should be pretty easy. Plus it gave me a goal to keep up with my training. I had done a good job post Wine and Dine of keeping up with my 10-12 mile long runs and wanted to get one more medal for the season.

About a week later another one of my friends from Galloway convinced me to sign up for the Rhythm an Blues Half Marathon on February 9th. She and I had done all our training together so I thought it would be fun to run with her. I had pretty much decided when I signed up for that one that the Woodlands one might not happen as it was only 3 weeks later. As the weeks went on other things kept popping up and in my mind I had decided I wasn't running it.

Of course as we got closer to the race I started thinking, well I have paid for it so if my list of "road blocks" would go away I would run it. My list included, figuring out a way to easily do a birthday party that day, my sinus infection clearing up, the blisters on my feet clearing up and how I was going to get my race package as I couldn't figure out how I was going to get to the Woodlands anymore. Wouldn't you know it, Tuesday I had a friend offer to pick up my race package and that was my last road block, so I guess I was in.

I packed all my stuff on Friday night so I'd be ready early Saturday morning to leave for the race. There was no question this time as to what I would wear. The forecast was for a low of 60 and a high of 71 and 0% chance of rain. Skirt and short sleeves it was. Since I knew it would be warmer and water stations were on scheduled every 2 miles, I did decide to run with my water belt this time though.

The race was to start at 7am. It is about an hours drive from my house to the Woodlands with no traffic so I decided I needed to leave by 5am to get there on time, so I set my alarm for 4:25.

As I was getting everything ready Friday night I was seriously questioning my decision as my legs felt dead and I really hadn't done anything all week. But when I woke up in the morning I was feeling better so off I went.

I drove to the Woodlands with no incident until I tried to find the parking lot that is. I turned one turn too soon and ended up stuck in areas getting blocked off for the race. I started to follow some arrows thinking they were directing me where to go and ended up on the tram only path along the water front. I later learned those arrows were for the runners to show the direction to the finish line. I'm amazed I was able to turn around and get out of there. As I was pulling out someone else was about to make the same mistake so I rolled my window down and told her she really didn't want to go that way.

I finally found the runners parking lot, parked my car and made it to the prerace area. I tried unsuccessfully to find some of my training buddies and then checked my bag at gear check and got in the very long port-a-potty line. It was 6:25 so I figured I had plenty of time. As I waited in that line I honestly thought I would not make it to the start of the race. For a city the size of Houston I tend to run into people I know in random places and this was no different I turned around and saw a coworker and his wife who were running the full marathon walk by.

I finally got out of there and tried to find the start corrals. They were much further away than I thought and when I got there I found rows and rows of empty port-a-potties. I wish I knew about those earlier. As I was approaching the corrals they started the national anthem. I finally made it back to the 2:30 finish time pace group in the corral and settled myself between the 2:30 and 2:45 group. My PR was 2:37 and in perfect conditions I think I could probably do a 2:30 half but I was pretty sure today did not have perfect conditions. It was already 70 degrees at the start and as for the 0% chance of rain. It was so humid it was drizzling the entire time I was at the prerace area.

At least I didn't have to wait long for the race to start. I got to the first mile and was excited to see that my Garmin hit the mile mark at the exact time I passed the mile sign. This was the only time that happened on the entire course. I did the first mile in a way too fast 10:52 and started to slow it down a little.
I ran the 2nd mile in 11:41 which was right in line with where I would have liked to run this race. I made it through the first water stop around mile 2-1/2 and as I was getting close to mile 3 I felt my right hamstring get really tight and sore. I don't know that I had ever had that happen before. I finished mile 3 in 11:47. Over the next mile I was in a lot of pain and had almost decided to quit at the next water stop when there should be a medic tent. I got to the water stop at mile 4 and was very disappointed. Not only was there no medic tent but I had to physically stop to wait for them to fill the water cups. This station was so disorganized. I decided then and there if there wasn't water at the next stop I was defiantly done. I know I'm not the fastest runner but at this point at least 1/3 or more of the runners for the half were still behind me. There is no reason for them not to have had water/Gatorade cups ready at this water stop. I finished that forth mile in 13:06. I was sore and hot and already drenched with sweat.
Over the next mile and a half I almost convinced myself to quit to run another day. I ran mile 5 in 13:10. As I approached the water stop at around mile 5-1/2 the song "Anything Can Happen" from Mary Poppins came on my playlist. Darn music pushing me through to the next medical stop. Fortunately this stop was much better run and there were tables and tables of water and Gatorade.
Mile 6 was 13:52 - I didn't even care about time at this point. I knew that now I had made it past the sweepers and I would be able to finish this race even if I had to walk the rest of the way home. I was still in a lot of pain. I stopped several times to try to stretch out my hamstring. I crossed the mat at the halfway mark in 1:18:31 (clock time).
Even though I was halfway through I was still thinking of quitting at the next stop right after mile 7 but ran into another running friend. Allison and a few friends were near mile 7 cheering. The sight of a familiar face telling me I was doing great was just enough to keep me going for another couple of miles. I ran the 7th mile in 13:42.
Somehow I found a groove with my hamstring for the next mile and managed an almost respectable 12:35 for that mile.
It was near the next water stop between mile 8 & 9 that I think the first male marathoners passed me. Yes I'm on mile 9 they are on mile 22 and they are passing me and they make it look so effortless. I will happily say only one female marathoner and nine male marathoners finished before I finished my half marathon. I thought it would bother me to see the marathoners pass me but I actually found it inspirational. Mile 9 was 13:42.
At this point it is all downhill. I knew I only had 4 miles to go and I knew that someway I could cross the finish line. I no longer thought about quitting and just thought about moving forward. Just keep running, just keep running. I don't remember a lot about miles 10 and 11. I ran 10 in 13:27 and 11 in 14:20. I was definitely walking more than running at this point but I was still moving forward. I do remember the bridge before mile 11. It wasn't a lot of fun.
We made the turn after mile 11 and I got a little worried about slipping in some mud on the street for a bit. Around mile 11-1/2 or so we entered the mall area. I remember seeing people walking back with their medals and shirts. I got really excited when I saw these beautiful blue finisher shirts. I could finish for one of those. I ran mile 12 in a race worst of 14:46. Coming down around 12-1/2 I saw the yellow arrows I followed earlier in my car in the dark that lead me down by the water front. So that is what the arrows were for. :)
My watch now says it is mile 13 so I'm getting excited that I am close to the end. There is a bridge up ahead where they split you to marathon finish on one side and half finish on the other side. I was certain the finish was on the other side of the bridge. I got to the other side and saw a sign that said 3 miles and knew then that was the 5k sign and I still had .1 miles to go. I know that doesn't seem like much but I had pushed for that finish and still had another .1 to go. I did mile 13 in 14:12 and the last .3 (according to my Garmin that is) in 3:25 or an 11:19 pace to finish.

So I did it. I made it. My official chip time was 2:54:36. It was miserable. It was muggy, it was hot and my hamstring hurt like nothing before but I finished it. I got my medal and my finishers shirt. To my great disappointment the men's shirts were the beautiful blue I saw but he women's finisher shirts were white. Yes white. Note to race directors - I haven't met a single female runner that actually wants to run in a white shirt. I know I was not the only one grumbling that the men's shirts were nicer.

Here is my medal

I wondered over to the finishers area and got into the very long line for food. That line seemed to go on forever. But it was a chicken biscuit from Chick-fil-a so I won't complain too much. At the end of the food tent I found Roy who is also a Galloway runner and we chatted about the race and ate our breakfast together before heading out.

I had decided to go to the Woodlands YMCA for a quick shower before driving an hour home. I was very glad I decided that as I felt so very icky and covered in sweat from that fun run.

And because it is a small world, as I exited the locker room at the YMCA I ran into my boss and his wife who were at the YMCA to watch their daughter play Volleyball.

It felt like an even longer drive home after the race and I realized how often you use your hamstring when driving to hit the breaks or gas along the way. It made me question what I consider a "local" race in the future.

I got home and rested for a bit, took a nice long soak in the tub and an ice massage on my leg before having a great playdate at Jimmy Changas with some friends the friends of my youngest. They kids had a great time on the playground and the adults had a nice time chatting and getting a drink or 2. It was a great end to a very long day.

And with that my race season is now over. I have a nice collection of bling from the year (picture of race bling minus the latest from the Woodlands Half)

I learned a lot about myself and running. I look forward to the upcoming season which will include training for a full marathon in December in San Antonio for the Rock n Roll Marathon and the Princess Half marathon with my sister at Walt Disney World in February. Official training will start in July but until then I hope to get some speed work and hill training in between now and then. I also want to maintain my base and try to keep up with an 8-10 mile run every 3 weeks or so.

Rhythm and Blues Half Marathon Houston 2-9-14

It's taken me a few days to be able to write a review/summary of the Rhythm and Blues Half Marathon on February 9th, 2014.

The weather forecast called for a morning low of 46 and a race time high of 67. So I decided that Skirt and short sleeves would be appropriate. It didn't get that warm. The high at the end of the race was 52 - overcast and misty.

The race was a 2 loop race along Allen Parkway starting at the Sam Houston Park.

I arrived at the parking lot just before 7:30.  As I got out of the car I noticed Danni and Jenni from my running group across the aisle.  We walked down together and were soon joined by Amy and then by Allison.

Here we all are pre race

The race was scheduled to start at 8:30 but they were late starting the 5k so we didn't actually start the run until 8:45.  Amy and I ran together for most of the race.  We started running a 2-1/2 minute run/1 minute walk pace. 

As I mentioned earlier the course was a 2 lap race.  As we came around the first mile you could see the 5k runners returning to the finish line. 

Our goal was to run around an 11:30min/mile pace.  We ran the first mile in 10:59 so we were running a little faster than we wanted to.

We ran by Amy's Husband who took a couple pictures and Amy's jacket. 

 

Mile 2 - we slowed down a little but were still fast at 11:06 min/mile

Mile 3 - 11:03 min/mile

 

At this point I noticed that the official mile marker was getting further and further away from where my Garmin said we were hitting the mile.

 

I also attempted to put my headphones on and listen to some music only to find my new headphones that were fully charged and working before the race had shut off and would not restart.  :(  No music for me.

 

 

They market this races as having bands and music along the course which they did sort of.  There was music - it wasn't all good.  There were high school bands, a couple guys playing something (yes it was that memorable), a DJ playing music I could have definitely done without. 

 

As we turned the corner to go from Allen Parkway to Memorial Drive we could see the leaders coming back on the East bound side.  Not far after the leading men there came a little girl of about 11 who was just smoking everyone.  I'm not sure if that was motivating or annoying. 

 

Around Mile 3-1/2 is the turn around point to head back towards Allen Park way to complete the first lap. 

 

We ran Mile 4 in 11:04 min/mile.  It felt like we had found our grove and we were feeling good (but we still had a long way to go).

 

A lot of races in Houston run along Allen Parkway.  Allen parkway has one disadvantage to it.  Underpasses.  Unlike a bridge where you run up and then get to reward yourself with a downhill run underpasses mean you get to run downhill first and then your "reward" is getting to run back up hill.  There are 2 of these which means on an out and back 2 loop course you get to run these underpasses 8 times. 

 

Mile 5 - 11:19 min/mile - We are finally starting to get closer to our desired pace.  I also start to calculate the difference between the Garmin mile and the race mile and realize that if the differential keeps up we will track an extra .25 miles at the end of the race. 

 

We run mile 6 in 11:17min/mile and I'm still feeling pretty good here. 

 

Here we are about midway through the race

 

 

We cross the "finish" line to start lap 2 and I commented that I reached goal #1.  I wasn't lapped by the leaders. 

 

Shortly after we start the second lap, my middle toe and pointer toe on my right foot start to hurt.  It feels like my toe nail from my middle toe was digging into my pointer toe.  It hurt a lot.  The more the toe nail dug into my toe the more I started compensating for it and eventually my calf started to hurt. 

 

Mile 7 - 11:11

Mile 8 - 11:28 (let the slowdown begin)

Mile 9 - 12:00

 

At this point my calf is hurting and I can feel that I am slowing Amy down so I tell her to go ahead and I'll make it the rest of the way on my own. 

 

I really struggled for these last few miles.  It would have been very helpful to have my music to get out of my own head and away from the little voice that tried to tell me I can't do it.

 

Mile 10 - 13:04

Mile 11 - 12:24

Mile 12 - 13:07

Mile 13 - 13:49

 

According to the Garmin I crossed the finish line in 2:37:25 an 13.35 miles

 

According to the office timing I finished in 2:37:19 (and of course 13.1 miles)

 

It was a new PR for me.  My last PR was the Houston Half last October (aka the rain run) ad I ran it in 2:37:59 so I cut off 40 sec/mile in less than 6 months.

 

Amy and I post run

 

 

With a new PR I should be happy but I wasn't.  I found myself very disappointed in my finish of the race and questioning my abilities to train for an run the full marathon in December.  Post race blues I guess.

 

I thought I could handle a 2 loop half marathon but I found the second loop to be very boring and challenging and since it is a race that you are running out and back on the same road you are really running the same stretch of the earth 4 times. 

 

We got 2 medals for the race.  One for running the race and a bonus Medal because we ran the Allen Parkway route in either the Houston Half last October of the Aramco Houston Half marathon in January. 

 

 

 

I've struggled a little getting back in the swing of things after this race.  I really tore up my feet somehow.  The bottoms of both feet developed huge calluses during this race and I tore up the are between my toes where my toe nail was rubbing.  I've never had that problem before in all my races/training runs. 

 

I'm still struggling with fueling properly for a half marathon and I need to figure out something that will work soon before my distances ramp up for the marathon training.

 

I also need to remember no matter how cold I feel after a long run,  I need to keep the temperature in the shower a little less hot.  The hot shower really messed me up after the run.

 

I had fun during the race.  I'm not sure I would repeat it in the future, but we'll see what the year holds for me.