Training Log Archive: Mona

Flying Pig Half Marathon, Cincinnati, OH

I'll categorize this event first in the series "WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING!"

Again not too much sleep, I got woken up w/ no reason 90 min before we had to leave. So, here I am: mad, tired and its drizzling, which seemed ok during the race, but definetely not after the race, upon counting all rashes in places I would not think you could get a rash (upper body). i started running with John, both kinda sore. Running the flat part was ok, full speed was 10min mile. But as soon as we had to cross these bridges (=uphill!) I thought world is gonna end. I'm sure the scenery was beautiful otherwise. So, the normal pain I feel around mile 9, you know, you think your quads are shot, yeah, I had that at mile 2. John took off, as I was moving at the 12min mile snail pace, and he really needs to get faster.

Course was relatively flat for first 5 miles, then mile 6 to 10 a killer hill, no clue what i have done with out all people and mike cheering, inspiring quotes on racing shirts, candy given away on the race, oh, and a LOT of nice smelling trees and flowers alomg the race, definetely can't discount that.

Downhill started at mile 10, and as I'm cruising down, I feel my calves real tight, and I pray they don't cramp cause if I fell there was no way I could get up at that point. So, no, thank God, i did not cramp up at all.

As I reached mile 12, where Mike was waiting, I again got a second wind. I averaged 8 min mile on the last mile...which somehow proves I could have gone a bit faster, but I am not complaining, I was happy to be able to run (not walk) the whole race, every hill. last challenge was a really bad side stich as I saw the finish line...so i was breathing like a racing horse to get rid of it, cause there was no way i was gonna walk the finish line.

This is how one crosses Finish line :)

So, I'm happy I've done it. Will I do it again, defitenetly not ... or never say never, how about not without proper training. oh, and proper body glide :)

C • Great photo 2

It started with a bad night of sleep, or more exactly almost no sleep at all. I was not quite looking forward to this race. I was not quite looking forward to anything, really. I knew I was not trained and just came out of an injury. I got to the start and could not find a porta-potty. Finally found one, and then, all 6 people I knew were running the race disappeared, so I started running by myself. I placed myself in the 2:15 time wave, but for the first .5 mile the crowd was barely moving, so i'm thinking (probably outloud if I know myself good enough) "people! we are not going to make it in 2:15 like this!!' I think the extra caffeine gel in me was talking! That's the soap opera part of the race.

Once I warmed up, i could not believe how good i was feeling, no bakc pain, no nothing. John caught up with me and we ran together a bit till he took off again. the course was pretty flat and a lot of people cheering. I was running low on energy toward the end where John's family and friends were cheering, and i got this incredible second wind. Never felt anything like that. It simply felt efortless to run. I'm still amazed. Anyway, finished the race, the weather was perfect, the time was only 30secs slower than my first half marathon on january, so not too bad.

I was quite tired after and i did not get a chnace to take a nap, and a bit more soap, but I'll spare the log.

Event: US Team Trials & Return to Boggs Mountain A Meet
 

I pushed it a bit, see what can be done. I pray I won't be in pain tomorrow or during the races now.

Back/butt feels good, I'm going to close that case. Cold, i declare it gone. So, just this 2 weeks break is what's gonna affect my time. i'm positive.

C • those 2

This felt great (time is just a guesstimate). My quads are already a bit sore from my so extreme workout yesterday, so i assume now the rest of the legs will get nice and sore. But it felt so good, can't wait to go MTB!!