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American Family Fitness Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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Richmond, Virginia
United States
Sports Backers
Total Time = 00m
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = 50-59
Age Group Rank = 74/
Pre-race routine:

Preface to my race day, for those who don't know me. I love this distance, it is one of my favorite distances to train for. Two years ago I was out for a prolonged injury. I am the poster child for why endurance athletes need to avoid taking quinalone antibiotics. Ten long months of physical therapy. The PT pretty much told me running was out of my future. Not in so many specific words, but in the way he interacted it was apparent he wanted me to find a new pastime. Hah, Miss Stubborn took the challenge and fought back.
Last year was all about doing 1 sprint, just to get back in the game.
This year has been vindication for me. I have worked towards this race preparation with a fierce passion while monitoring closely how my legs felt throughout the build. I looked at a lot of training plans. I wanted a long build to get used to the stress slowly with a lot of shorter runs in the beginning. Found the silver 20 week plan here and decided to give it a whrl. I did change a few weeks around, dropping a long run in a week when I had a sprint tri as well as a couple easy recovery runs after long days of traveling. My goal was to get to the start of this race healthy. If I could get to my PR pace that would be beyond awesome. Even close to my best at this venue would make me happy.
So here we are, it's race day. My pre race standard breakfast is a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter and banana. It just works for me so I don't plan on changing the routine. Drive up to Richmond and find parking.
Event warmup:

Walked up to the start area trying to find Jen who was running the 8K. Never did meet up pre race, but Kristen and I found each other and hung out trying to keep warm.
Run
  • 2h 07m 20s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 09m 43s  min/mile
Comments:

I signed up for a 2 hour pace group. Unfortunately the group was in the wave ahead of me and I never caught up to them. I was hungry before the start as the second bag of bagels I was going to eat from this morning had gotten completely molded. I had been looking for a convenience store pre race to grab something else to eat but couldn't find anything open at that hour of the morning. So about 20 minutes before the start I had a gu while in the corral.

Lined up in the front of the wave with the plan to hang on the heels of the 2 hour pace group. Never caught them, their wave went out about 3 minutes before mine and that was just enough of a lead to hold me back. I did see Bart Yasso from Runner's World while in the corral which was cool.

Most of the race I averaged 9:20 pace. Hit around 5 miles and we headed into Bryant Park. Nothing but up and down the hills for the next 4 miles. When we FINALLY got out of the park my HR was over 170 which is a whole lot higher than I have been running in training. Lungs on fire. My pace slowed through there.....in part from the hills and in part from equipment malfunction. The ipod went to slower music and it was hard to get from my pocket to reset it. I was also trying to get another gu out and had a hard time reading into my jersey pockets. Anyway, I hit the 10K at about 58 minutes which is slower than I had anticipated but I thought I might be able to make up the time after I got out of the hills.
I was heading out of Bryant Park as Kristen was headed in. Cheered each other on. Counting down the mile markers, planned on turning up the speed with about 5K to go.
Another malfunction with the ipod. I had finally fished it out of the pocket to change the music to faster tempo and the ear bud wire was twisted up in the race / fuel belts so it didn't go in the pocket again. Had to set it on the belt line and hope it would stay. Gloves came off and got tucked in the belt too.
Got to about 11 miles and the course started to turn all over the place. They changed the finish since I last ran this race. Mile 12 and I knew at 1:56 the sub 2 was definitely out of the window. Last mile or so was straight down a hard hill. My calves and feet were cramping big time. It was a pretty finish area on Brown Island, but really we finish going down this hard hill and have to walk back UP same hill to get to dry bags and parking?
What would you do differently?:

More hill work

Make sure the food I intend to eat for breakfast is still in edible condition prior to race morning!!
Post race
Warm down:

Walked down the rest of the hill. Find Jen, eat a little banana and another bagel. Walk to my car. Panic cause I can't find my car key and I don't know the combination lock (in my long sports bra pocket tucked there cause I was afraid that it might come out from the jersey pockets when I went in for the gu/ ipod.
Got coffee and waited for Kristen so we could do lunch at Cap Ali House.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Hills
Poor sleep
Not quite enough breakfast

Event comments:

I had booked a massage post race several months ago. Thankful I did. Crystal is an angel and gave me an extra 15 minutes on the legs.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2012-05-12 12:00 AM
Running
02:07:20 | 13.1 miles | 09m 43s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
most of my mile splits were 9:15-9:30, had solid up and down hills from mile 5 to 9 and thought I would DIE. HR was jacked to 170's in that section
Course: Starts downtown and winds all over the city.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 3

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2012-11-10 4:13 PM

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Royal(PITA)
14270
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West Chester, Ohio
Subject: American Family Fitness Half Marathon


2012-11-10 6:31 PM
in reply to: #4493156

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Champion
6107
50001000100
Out running or enjoying a fine glass of red...
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
You left out the part where you rescued me from the med tent.

Great race - even if you didn't PR, you did awesome & this course sucks. Well, it really doesn't, but it's hillier than you'd think.
2012-11-10 7:59 PM
in reply to: #4493156

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Master
1848
100050010010010025
Canandaigua
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
Great job on your first HM post injury.   Sorry no PR but you'll get it next time!
2012-11-10 11:06 PM
in reply to: #4493156

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Expert
973
5001001001001002525
Berkeley, Calif.
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
Awesome comeback race, Judi. I feel your disappointment at the lack of PR -- it was the same for me after my first HM post-injury (and my second post-injury HM, actually). But to make it through an intense training period and get to the start line healthy, and then run such a strong race, is fantastic. I know you're pleased, as you should be!
2012-11-11 6:43 AM
in reply to: #4493156

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TinkerBeth
23096
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Liverpool, New York
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon

she's baaaaack!!!

awesome job Judi and way to prove them wrong!

congratulations

i'm super happy for you and it's great to see you back doing what you love

 

2012-11-11 8:39 AM
in reply to: #4493156

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Master
2146
200010025
East Side of the Bay
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
Congrats on proving your doubters wrong!! Sounds like a tough course on less than optimal calories. You are an inspiration to us all!!


2012-11-11 9:49 AM
in reply to: #4493156

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Pro
4343
2000200010010010025
Olney, MD
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
Congrats on your race and proving that PT wrong!
2012-11-11 10:57 AM
in reply to: #4493156

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Elite
3595
20001000500252525
Quebec, Canada
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon

Awesome race Judi

You trained to get back there and you did it! Congratulation



Edited by rlejeune 2012-11-11 10:57 AM
2012-11-11 2:57 PM
in reply to: #4493156

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Expert
663
5001002525
Williamsburg, VA
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
Awesome Job Judy!! You showed everyone that perseverance and a kick attitude will get you far.
2012-11-11 6:55 PM
in reply to: #4493156

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Master
1655
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NJ
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
Great race! Congratulations on a fantastic comeback
2012-11-11 7:19 PM
in reply to: #4493156

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Champion
7163
500020001002525
Verona WI--Ironman Bike Country!
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
So happy you are fully back in action.  You will see that sub 2 soon!


2012-11-11 7:31 PM
in reply to: #4493156

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Master
2563
20005002525
University Park, MD
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
Great story - congrats on thumbing your nose at doubters and coming back from injury.
2012-11-12 5:32 AM
in reply to: #4493156

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Expert
1694
1000500100252525
Illinois
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
Reading the part about being at 1:56 at mile 12 was painful, I know that feeling so well. Way to push through a tough course.  You made a FANTASTIC comeback and proved the doctors wrong about your injury. 
2012-11-12 6:33 AM
in reply to: #4493156

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2012-11-12 6:53 AM
in reply to: #4493156

Pro
5123
5000100
Canandaigua NY
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon

First attempt at the distance post injury you did a great job!! Throw in a couple of curve balls pre-race and it is even more impressive!

You will get your goal time!!  Way to go!

2012-11-12 11:47 AM
in reply to: #4493156

Seattle
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
Great race! So glad you have been able to come back strong from the injuries! 


2012-11-12 12:45 PM
in reply to: #4493156

Iron Donkey
38643
50005000500050005000500050002000100050010025
, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon

A lot of hardship to get to the start, but, you survived and gave it your best for the day!  GOOD FOR YOU!

Take this as a great learning lesson to really improve on the next 1/2 marathon, Zipp.  You WILL improve drastically.  I'll guarantee it!

2012-11-12 10:37 PM
in reply to: #4493156

Science Nerd
28760
50005000500050005000200010005001001002525
Redwood City, California
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
You're so close to sub-2 HM.  You'll definitely get it soon!  I'm still amazed at how much you've proved the PT wrong.  
2012-11-13 8:04 AM
in reply to: #4493156

Master
2005
2000
Silverton, Oregon
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon

Ugh on the moldy bagels. Nothing worse than having your pre race nutrition ritual go wrong. 

Fantastic job pulling off a great race anyway! Sounds like it was a tough course too. I am so happy for you on making a full recovery from your injury. You have worked hard for it! I have no doubt you'll hit that sub 2 in 2013!

2012-11-13 2:39 PM
in reply to: #4493156

Champion
5312
5000100100100
Calgary
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
just you getting to this race and the patience you had with your training is awesome. Sounds like a rough day with things not going your way but you didn't let it get to you, which is a lesson I sure need to learn.

congratulations on a job well done.
2012-11-13 7:25 PM
in reply to: #4493156

Champion
10742
5000500050010010025
Ames, IA
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
It's been so great watching you come back from this injury and do what you love.  Congrats on a great race!


2012-11-18 8:47 AM
in reply to: #4493156

Iron Donkey
38643
50005000500050005000500050002000100050010025
, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: American Family Fitness Half Marathon
That pace is NOTHING to sneeze at, Zip-Zip!!  Nice job!!
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