Race Report: Kicks and Kisses 5k

Amy and I pre-race

First race report of the year! YAY!

So.  Training has not been going as well as I was hoping it would.  I've been sick a couple times in the past month and, most likely in conjunction, have not been recovering well from my hard efforts.  Very frustrating to say the least.  4:40am wake up calls, working out, 10 hour work days, and taking care of my sons has been pretty challenging.  As my first race of the year neared, I knew I was not at the spot I was last year.  (I had placed 2nd in 2014.)  Looking at the roster of registrants, I knew there was NO WAY that I'd crack the top three with where my fitness was at.  As everyone probably knows by this point, I'm very competitive.  Very.  And so a
new idea formed in my mind last week...Kicks and Kisses has an individual 5k and a team 5k--for the latter, you are tethered together for the entire race.  You must start and finish together.  Philip is in great shape.  He's been constant and consistent with his training.  I was pretty sure that Philip and I could win the Duo Dash. (Plus he's a really good sport and puts up with my crazy running/racing ways.)

I talked to the race director last week to see if we could switch events and luckily he made it happen. (Thank you!) Philip and I were both a little worried that there was the potential for problems...that one of us would say something sassy during the race.  After talking about it, we decided that we were just going to run for fun.  For FUN.  After this decision was made, the pressure was off for both of us.  My husband made me a delicious Valentine's Dinner the night before (chicken risotto!), we watched 'Modern Family", and went to bed early.

We awoke the next morning to a temperature of 12 degrees.  After checking the forecast, I saw that it wouldn't be much better at race time (9:05am for the Duo Dash).  Philip and I layered up knowing full well what was in store for us (frozen fingers and burning lungs--are you jealous yet?!).  We dropped our boys off at Philip's cousin's home and headed into Lincoln.  We got there early enough to secure a good parking spot, which in the Haymarket is generally unheard of.  We picked up our packets and got everything organized for the event.  About five minutes to race time, we left our warm surrounding at Vega for the bitter bite of winter that would be our reality for the next 20ish minutes.  I told Philip to remind me to never run another winter race.  Standing at the starting line, I even told Philip that after this race, I would never run again. (Yeah, right!)  I like running, but hate being cold.  What a wimp.

After the Cupid Chase (which was the solo race) had begun, Philip and our fellow duo dashers got lined up and ready. As the horn blew signaling the start, my tethered partner-in-crime and I ran off.  Now--I must admit that it was rather challenging zig-zagging around the Cupid Chasers.  Philip and I would try to ask people to move by saying "On your left!", but many had ear phones in and couldn't hear us.  This became part of the team challenge of the race for us.  We would come upon a group of runners, and Philip would tell me to go to the left or the right, or whether he wanted me or him to take the lead when we needed to run single file.  I thought that we did an awesome job of working together.

As we looped around the arena, we had a good feeling that we would win the mixed division (male + female).  Right before the final curve, Philip noticed that another mixed team was coming up behind us.  We picked it up and were ready for a fight to the finish.  The other couple didn't push back and we easily won it.

Did my lungs burn and fingers freeze?  Yes.  I felt like garbage.  This is what I get for running almost solely on my treadmill.  Maybe I am making excuses, but it is SO hard to run outside with my littles.  (Plus I just started to watch 'Parenthood' while running.  I'm quickly becoming obsessed with the Bravermans...)  We met back up with my WRN teammate Amy and hung out at Vega until the awards.   I bundled myself back up and drank some hot cocoa to warm myself up.

Will I ever run again? Yes.  Will I sign up for another winter race? Yes.  I apparently never learn.

Big thanks to Zach and Heidi for putting on another stellar even.  If you haven't run any of their events, they are a must.  Complete results to the Cupid Chase and Duo Dash can be found here.

Happy running, friends!

Race Report: TC 5k and Twin Cities Marathon

Philip and I at the finish of the Twin Cities Marathon 2014

TC 5k
Yes, I really did race a 5k and then turn around the next day and do a marathon.  Possibly not my smartest move, but it did all turn out okay and (mostly) went according to plan.  The week before at Harvest Moon Hustle, I ran a 20:14...as this was my last 5k of the year, out went my chance to go sub-20.  When Philip and I arrived in St. Paul for the marathon on Friday afternoon, I found out that the 5k that went along with the marathon weekend festivities was only a couple blocks from our hotel.  And we had no plans for the following morning.  And I really wanted to break 20 minutes.  So, I signed up at the expo and the next morning we found ourselves trekking out to yet another race. (And yes, I know that I have maybe taken it a bit overboard this year with racing...) Anyway, before signing up, I neglected to check out the course profile...while there was a magnificent down hill at the end of the race, the beginning boasted the same hill going UP.  No, this was not going to be an easy course to achieve my goal.  At this point, it was inevitable that I was running so I had no choice but to run my hardest.  That morning's races included a 10k at 7:30am, the 5k at 9am, and then some shorter races for kids as the morning progressed.  We found out that some people were completing an "Ultra Looney Challenge" where they would finish the 5k, 10k, and then the 10 mile or full marathon the next day.  I told Philip at least I wasn't that crazy...

I lined myself up at the front of the group as there were tons of people in the race.  When the gun went off, we immediately started trucking up hill...I'd say that most of the first mile was up, BUT as it was an out and back course, I'd get a hefty downhill to the finish line as well.  As the weather was about 40 degrees, it was the first time this year that I'd raced in cooler temps.  I felt good the entire race, but wondered if it would be enough.  All in the matter of a few seconds, I got passed by a female and saw that my finish time was 20:11.  I was a little disappointed once again, but there is always next year.  Besides, there were 26.2 miles tomorrow to get ready for.

Twin Cities Marathon
After attempting to stay off our feet the rest of Saturday (we ended up going to a movie--Gone Girl), we awakened bright and early Saturday morning for what would be my husband's first marathon.  When we signed up last May, we planned on running the event together.  It was tough to stay on board with our marathon training after the 70.3 in August, but Philip and I managed to get through our training runs and arrived to this point injury free and ready for the distance.  After talking about our race plan, we decided that a 4:10 would be a good goal time for Philip's first (and only) full marathon.  Ideally, we would run two back-to-back 2:05 half-marathons.  Our nutrition plan, derived from LOTS of trials and errors on my part, was to take a gel every 4 miles starting at mile 5.  That was the plan.  What could go wrong?

We left our hotel about 5:45am and headed to another hotel nearly a mile away as shuttle buses were taking runners from the finish line in St. Paul to the start (we were staying by the finish).  This went very smoothly and we found ourselves at the starting area at 6:20am (marathon was slated to start at 8am).  Having lots of time to kill, we walked over to the start of the 10 mile event and watched those guys get ready for their race and eventually take off. Cool to see.  We then made one more stop at the port-o-potties and headed to our corral.  The race was divided into three starting corrals and you were placed according to speed.  Philip and I both qualified for the first corral so were able to start right up front.  However, once the gun went off, starting the first group, we had a tough time holding ourselves back as it seemed like literally everyone was passing us by.  I wasn't feeling as great as I'd hoped those first few miles and became increasingly nervous as time went on.  Philip noted this and kept asking if I was okay.  I was...BUT I have done enough of these races to know how bad it can get if things blow up.  Please don't blow up.  Please don't blow up.  We went through 13.1 in 2:05, perfectly on pace.  By the time I hit mile 15, I started to feel better mentally.  Physically, I still didn't feel the best, but at this point in the race, that was okay.  As the next few miles ticked away, I started to feel stronger and much more confident.  (And in case you are wondering how Philip felt, he felt great the entire time.  Well, at least until mile 23.  But that is pretty normal.)  By the time we went through miles 24 and 25, I knew that we were going to be right on our time goal of 4:10.  As we went through the finish, I saw that our time was 4:10:24.  We walked through the chute, got our medal, a mylar blanket, and some chocolate milk.  We then got a couple finisher's pictures and looked around to find where we went to get our shirt (only official finishers get a shirt at TCM).  We rested for a little bit, and then hauled our sore but accomplished bodies back to our hotel to get cleaned up and head home to our boys.

I still have a couple races left this fall, but this event closed out the two BIG events that my husband and I trained for this year.  I felt good that we were able to accomplish both the half-iron and marathon in the midst of a difficult year, but a little sad it was all over.  And I still have big goals for the marathon distance.  Those goals will have to wait for another year.  For now, I am so very thankful for a body that allows me to put it through such rigor without much argument, and an extremely supportive husband and family--without them, there is absolutely no way that I'd be able to do this.

Cheers, friends.  I'll be seeing lots of you next week at Market to Market.  WRN is ready to race! :)



Complete results to both races can be found here: http://www.mtecresults.com/race/show/2568/2014_TC_5K-5K
http://www.mtecresults.com/race/show/2569/2014_Medtronic_Twin_Cities_Marathon-Marathon

Race Report: Harvest Moon Hustle

Philip and I pre-race

I love racing 5k's....it's probably my favorite distance to race.  It hurts for the time I'm running (because I'm running HARD), but it's over in about 20 minutes. So when it came time to sign up for the Harvest Moon Hustle and I had to pick between a 5k and a 10k, it was a no-brainer for me.  5k all the way!

Several of my WRN teammates were also racing, but we were split up between the two distances.  Ann and Amy were racing the 10k while Christy, Kylie, and I were doing the 5.  My husband was also running the 10k, so I picked him up when he got off work in Lincoln and headed to Elmwood.  We parked, got our packets, and found our friends.  The 10k was slated to begin at 6:50, with the 5k beginning 5 minutes after.  I guess there was some issues with the timing mats, so it started a little late for the people running the shorter distance.  Kylie and I chatted as we waited for our race to begin.

The race started with a slight downhill before turning onto the trail for an out and back race.  Although the race directors cleared walnuts off the trail prior to the event, it was hard to get all of them off as the leaves were also falling (fall race--obviously no way around this)...with the marathon next weekend and Market to Market the week after, I was praying that I didn't twist an ankle.  I felt decent the whole race, but felt like I was working pretty hard and didn't think I could go much faster.  I wasn't sure how fast I ran and I was sans watch and the time clock wasn't going at the finish, but found out later I ran 20:14.  I have to say that I was a little disappointed with this...it seems like every time I run a 5k, I do it somewhere between 20:00-20:30...c'mon! I'm itching for a sub-20 and not sure if I'll have another chance this season.

The post-race celebration was so great!  We had a yummy barbecue dinner and had lots of fun laughing now that our work was done.  (Seriously--racing be stressful business!!)  Anyway, great job to Zach and Heidi for another stellar event!

Next up: Twin Cities Marathon.  I'm so excited for a weekend in Minnesota and running with Philip for his first full marathon.  Cheers!

Complete results can be found here:http://www.onlineraceresults.com/event/view_event.php?event_id=14358

Race Report: Kicks and Kisses 5K

On Saturday, February 15th, I participated in the inaugural Kicks and Kisses 5k, which is a part of the new BRIN racing series here in Nebraska.  I was initially drawn to this race because of the fabulous job the race directors, Zach and Heidi Harsin, have done in marketing the event.  They gave away several race entries and the grand prize for winners in the event was a pair of Saucony shoes.  How fun is that?!

The forecast for the day showed a high of 52 degrees, which is beautiful for February! However, Friday evening as I was attempting to pack (my sons were NOT interested in losing my attention to this activity), I checked again and race start was going to be 27 degrees. Ugh, great...really though, what did I expect?! It's February! So, pulled out the tights, gloves, etc. once again.  I am NOT one of those runners who sport shorts and a singlet regardless the weather.  Just ask my husband, I am not a fan of being cold.

Philip and I arrived at the race right on time, picked up our packets, and found some water to drink.  We met our friends Adam and Beth beforehand and chatted with a few other runners.  Luckily, we were indoors for pre and post race.  A couple minutes before the race, Beth and I made our way outside.  We went to the very front of the line...my way of thinking is the closer you are to the start, the closer you are to the finish.  Anyway.

Once the gun went off, we started running towards the trail behind the Lancaster Events Center.  A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I had bought some trail shoes.  For whatever reason, it didn't occur to me that this race might, in fact, be run on a TRAIL.  Dude, THINK! I have run here before.  I chose that morning to instead pack my shiny new racing flats.  So there I was trying to make my way up an icy hill.  Sheesh.  Luckily, after we passed 84th street, we were back on a road and all was good.
I fell into second place pretty quickly after the race began...and if I'm being honest, I totally expected this.  In my mind, I am not pessimistic, just realistic.  Hayley Sutter is faster than me.  So, my goal beforehand was to get second.  However, there was another girl RIGHT behind me the ENTIRE race.  Scary! I was going as fast as I could the entire time.  Towards the end, I tried to pick it up a little, but wasn't sure how far she was behind me.  I ended up coming in second place by three seconds.  Again, I wanted to rip my lungs out since I'm always on that treadmill and never run outside.

The hot chocolate afterwards was wonderful, the bagels were great, and we really liked the awards ceremony.  Philip and I weren't able to stick around for long afterwards since we had the triathlon that afternoon, but I'm sure those who stayed had a great time.

I really enjoyed the BRIN racing series' first race and hope to run Cornfield to Cornfield in June.

Happy Running!

Race Report: Empyrean Trail Run

On Saturday, February 1st, I participated in my first Emyprean Trail Run.  The race took place in Ashland at the Carol Joy Holling Camp.  Having previously completed trail races in this area (Beer and Bagel Off-Road), I knew that it would be a hilly and difficult course.  The forecast called for 27 degrees but minimal wind, so it looked like it would be a nice winter race.

My dad came to our home to watch our two boys, so my husband decided to come cheer me on.  We picked up our friend Jenny in Lincoln and made our way down the interstate.  We arrived around 10am, an hour before the race start, and had plenty of time to pick up our packet and get ready.  Jenny and I waited inside until about 5 minutes before the race started...BRRR!!!

When the gun went off, we headed down a road which quickly turned into an open field (with lots of snow and leaves) and then a single lane trail.  Primarily, the race was either on the trail or the field which made the terrain difficult.  I wore my regular Asics Kayanos for the race, and had a hard time with the steep inclines, declines, and sharp turns.  At one point as I was running down a hill, I lost my balance and thought I might fall into an icy stream.

I led the race for about the first mile, but was surpassed at that point.  The leader was not too far in front of me until probably the last mile.  She ended up finishing in 25:27 to my 26:01.  I do think I would have beat her had I had either spikes or trail shoes, but I think the 30 second gap might have been less.  Oh well, you live and learn.

I turned 30 in October and have been very excited about my new age group.  However, the age group I was in at this race was 21-30. Jenny and I both won our age groups at this race, which was pretty cool! The race featured Empyrean beer and a delicious barbecue lunch afterwards.

All in all, this was a great way to start the 2014 racing season...I would definitely run this race again.

Race results can be found here:

http://www.onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php?race_id=37751#racetop