Robie Recap





Let me just start by saying, I didn't exactly meet my goal again this year ... I REALLY, REALLY want to run this "hill-acious" half marathon in under 2 hours.  But, I suppose this year was not the year to do it.  On a sweltering day when many runners saw their times increase by 10 minutes, I guess I will just be happy that my race time went down by about 8 minutes.

I AM HAPPY!!!  I think if it would have been cooler, that last mile to the summit *might* have been a little faster ... but I can't really complain about my time.  I wanted to improve and I did.  I know I can do better and I'm hoping that another year of trails next year will put me where I want to be in 2013.

Things I did this year that seemed to help:

• I ran trails.  A lot.  (I probably should have thrown in a few treadmill runs to work on speed, but I never did.)  It has been so fun getting to know some of the trails in my area.  It's amazing how addicting running outside can be.  The only problem was I ran outside in the cold and wind most of my training months ... I wasn't prepared to run in blazing, sunny 80 degree heat!!  
• I rested the week before the race.  A lot.  I did one trail run/hike with my kids about 4 days before the race, but other than that I took the whole week off and let my body build up energy.
• I ate carbs.  A lot.  I read this article and even though "carbing up" a whole 3 days prior to the race seemed a little overkill, I can honestly say I felt like I had plenty of fuel in the tank on my run.  That was definitely a nice feeling.
• I ate bananas.  A lot.  A TON, actually.  I was so nervous about having another bad year in the leg cramp department, I started eating at least one banana a day months out and in the weeks before the race I was sure to have two.  Last year my downhill suffered so bad (and that's usually the fastest part of the race -- the area to make up time) as I had to stop every five minutes and massage my calves as they were in a near-constant cramp state.  Not fun. 
• I was a good girl and took my vitamins.  I'm usually pretty spacey about taking regular vitamins/supplements but I tried really hard to stay on track.  I took a multi vitamin, Fish Oil, glucosamine and biotin every day!
• I kept a positive attitude.  The whole race I kept telling myself "You get one chance a YEAR to do this Yvonne ... you can do it, you can give it your all!"
  

Last year was so disappointing -- I got sick and wasn't able to train like I needed to.  I wasn't mentally or physically prepared.  This year, I felt so much more in control.  I would have liked to see even more minutes shaved off my time, but I have been celebrating anyway.  I am happy with my results.  Happy that I was able to finish strong, with a smile on my face! 

In 2010 and 2011 I ran it in 2:18 -- that's gun time, not chip time so it doesn't account for the time it took me to actually cross the START line.  This year my gun time was 2:10:18 and my chip time (or what I like to call my REAL time!) was 2:08:32.  I finished 457th overall (out of 2,466 runners), 102nd among the women, and 24th in my age division! Yay!  Definitely room for improvement, but that's what next year is for! :)  
Here are some fun race-weekend pics ...




My awesome family!



Ready to Run!

Do we look anxious?!?

The best cheering section ever!

Finishing!

Finish line

 

Cards from my kiddos!  So cute ... love that they had me running the race in an hour and coming in first!!!

HEAVEN!!!

Sorry kiddos, no sleeping in today! :)

My oldest two were out of school today for teacher inservice ... so they got to run trails with Mom and the puppy instead!  After a hard rain last night, I was doubtful we'd even make it out today but the weather was perfect this morning -- cool, calm, refreshing and even the sun made an appearance from time to time.  My kiddos were real troopers.  I was so impressed and proud at both their skill and determination.  I didn't grow up running, but I truly hope it's something all of my children will embrace and enjoy.  I certainly saw some smiles today! 

3 days till race day ... I've been taking most of this week off and freaking out a little (OK a lot) about doing so.  Today's time on the trails felt nice -- nothing too crazy, just a little practice of both the physical and mental variety.  And it's looking like Mother Nature is going to throw in a nice little twist for us with an unseasonably *hot* race day.  Should be interesting!

The Power of Positive Thinking!

I have not been the most positive person lately ... even my husband was saying just the other day we both have gotten in a "Negative Nellie" rut and it's time to be a little more positive and optimistic.  Pretty sure I rolled my eyes when he said this and started to list off all the stuff going "wrong" for me right now.

I was at my negative best again this morning.  I whined and complained and bitched the whole way out to the trail head. 

"I don't want to do Robie. Not even looking forward to it."
"I can't run hills.  I hate hills."
"My running just sucks lately."  ... and on and on and on.

Then I got out of the car and decided to put all of that aside for just this run.  What a novel idea!  Instead of heading out with all kinds of crappy, self-destructive thoughts in my head, I decided I would focus on only good things. Usually I am so focused on how weak my legs are, how quickly I seem to get out of breath, how I can't go as fast as I want ... it's no wonder my runs SUCK ... they are doomed before I even start.  Today, however, I promised myself I would only focus on what my body CAN do.  To be thankful for the health I do have ... to not give up, to enjoy the fact that I am able-bodied and strong.  Yes, I am strong.  Maybe not as strong as some people, but strong in my own ways. I have put a lot of time into training ... I have run a lot of hills.  I can do hard things.

And guess what?

I had the best run I've had in "forever" as I told my husband.  The beautiful blue skies surely helped ... but aside from that I ran STRONG.  I ran trails I haven't run in weeks and I was able to run all the hills I usually walk.  I kept my head down and reminded myself to focus on what was right in front of me ... to not look too far ahead and get discouraged.  It worked.  I tackled some nice climbs ... and my speed was better than it's been in months.  I believe I actually did a fist pump at the top of the highest hill ... ok, now I'm just admitting my total nerdiness.  But dammit, for the first time in A LONG TIME, I am proud of what I did today.

 

The power of positive thinking ... it really is something to practice.  I will quite rolling my eyes at my dear husband when he tries to persuade me of it's usefulness.  I'm a believer!! 

  

Make it so!

NINE more days till Robie ... I may not be as fast as some, hell, I may not even be as fast as myself in past years ... but I will keep a smile on my face and focus on all that I CAN do.   


 

~ Fluffy ~ Music ~ Friday ~

Gotta love these fluffy songs ... they feel "Spring-ish" and help me keep a "spring" in my step when I run! 

Tick, tock ... tick, tock ...

The Race to Robie is inching closer and closer each day ... I wish I could say it was motivating me to run as much as possible.  In fact, the opposite seems to be true.  As the race gets closer I seem to be finding every excuse in the book NOT to run.  I have been doing longer runs ... but definitely taking more days off in between.  I've resigned myself to the fact that my finish time will not be what I want it to be AGAIN this year.  Bummer.   

View from Saturday's run - in the 70's - AMAZING day!

I have really been enjoying my time on the trails though.  I look forward to going out in a few weeks and just running for the fun of it ... no tracking, timing, or STRESSING.  I'm also looking forward to more Spring weather.  The last few months have been a bit brutal out there, cold temps and biting winds -- but I have covered a lot of ground and gotten to know numerous trails in our foothills that I never new existed a few short months ago.  I'm eagerly anticipating hiking with the kiddos and our lil' doggy in the summer ... I envision picnics creek-side and warm sunshine on my shoulders (I refuse to acknowledge the reality that our little outings will most likely also involve a lot of whining, complaining, and bickering!)

View from Tuesday's run - Explored new trails!

I am proud of my youngest little guy though ... he was  real trooper yesterday and joined Zoe and I on a hike in the whipping wind.  Even a little rain didn't scare him away -- we made up games along the way about having to jump over sticks crossing the paths and took turns calling the puppy back when her hound nose lead her on a bird chase!  We even managed to snap a few pics!  Like the puppy, my baby is growing way too fast ... soon his afternoons home with me will be a thing of the past.  I am glad we will have these memories.