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Sunday, March 24, 2013

On the Run: Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon 2013


This is the 3rd year of the Rock CF Rivers race on Grosse Ile and I've run it every year.  I love it!  It's so well-organized in all respects, the shirts are great, it's not crowded, I can keep warm in the high school before the race starts, and there are plenty of bathrooms (mostly real inside bathrooms with actual soap and sinks!).  It also raises a lot of money for cystic fibrosis, which is really cool.  What's the downside?  No post-race bananas!!!  Wah-wah!  Ah well, I can't have it all.

It was a little chilly this morning - around 27 degrees - but thankfully there wasn't too much wind.  And honestly, it was pretty much perfect once I got going.  This is such a nice course.  There are long stretches along the water, spots that take you by gorgeous homes, and at one point you even run through the Naval Air Station hangar.  Everyone along the course is super friendly and supportive.  My favorite was the guy in the full Spider-Man suit encouraging me on around the relay exchange point! 

I wish I felt better about my race.  I should, considering I ran it almost 7 minutes faster than the same race last year.  However, I had a lot of negative self-talk going through my mind as I ran (started too fast, uneven pace, why did I sign up for a full marathon??)  Then when I was done and saw my time, I was frustrated that it wasn't a new half marathon PR for me.  I placed 5th in my age group and had hoped for better.

BUT, not every race can be a PR, right?  Or put me in the top 3 in my age group.  And maybe every race isn't going to be the best one ever.  On the bright side, I improved from last year's time on this race, I kept pushing myself when my mind was telling me to slow down, AND I chicked a lot of dudes.  Oh yeah, and I got to see Spider-Man.  That, my friends, is not your everyday occurrence.  


Time 
1:33:20
Pace 
7:07/mile
Fuel 
Vanilla Chia Pudding (this recipe, minus the cocoa), banana
Tunes
Off to the Races / Lana del Rey 
It Gets Better / fun. 
The Man That Never Was / Rick Springfield 
 Paris (Ooh La La) / Grace Potter & The Nocturnals 
Get Ready / Mayer Hawthorne 
Back in Your Head / Tegan and Sara 
Babel / Mumford & Sons 
Run Right Back / The Black Keys 
Sixteen Saltines / Jack White 
Never Go Back / Grace Potter & The Nocturnals 
We Found Love / Rihanna 
Ain't Messin 'Round / Gary Clarke Jr. 
Work Around It / Them Swoops 
I Will Wait / Mumford & Sons 
Can't Hold Us / Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 
Heart Attack / Raphael Saadiq 
Better Left Unsaid / Otto Vector 
In My Head / No Doubt 
Blue Orchid / The White Stripes 
Runaway Baby / Bruno Mars 
Young Blood / The Naked & Famous 
Back & Forth / Foo Fighters 
Blood for Poppies / Garbage 
We Come Running / Youngblood Hawke 
Where Have You Been / Rihanna 
So Good / B.o.B. 
The Antidote / St. Vincent
 Next race: Martian Invasion of Races, Half Marathon - April 13th

Friday, March 22, 2013

On the Run: ShamRock 'n' Roll 10K 2013


The morning of my second race of the season dawned much darker, colder, and windier than that of my race a few weeks ago.  Thankfully the streets were cleared from the snow the day before but the windchill made it feel well below 20 degrees.  It was ch-ch-chilly!  That's okay, though, because once I got going I was felt great and didn't get too hot.  Although this race was sold out it wasn't too crowded.  Either it was capped at a low number, they did well with the 2-wave organization, or not everyone showed up due to the cold.  Whatever the reason I was happy with it because I despise crowded races!

I placed 2nd in my age group and was awarded a nice beer mug.  On top of that I was the 4th woman to finish over all.  Alas, it was no PR for me but I'm just getting warmed up, baby!

I don't drink beer but I can put a lot of wine in this!  Ha ha!


Time 
43:35

Pace 
7:02/mile

Fuel 
Vanilla Chia Pudding (this recipe, minus the cocoa), banana

Tunes
(all Irish bands for St. Patty's Day) 


Something Good Can Work / Two Door Cinema
Salty Dog / Flogging Molly
Salvation / The Cranberries
Barroom Hero / Dropkick Murphys
Girl From Mars / Ash
Vertigo / U2 
Don't Shut 'Em Down / Flogging Molly
The Great Defector / Bell X1
Devil's Dance Floor / Flogging Molly
I Just Shot John Lennon / The Cranberries
Good Rats / Dropkick Murphys
Selfish Man / Flogging Molly
All Because of You / U2
Someday / Two Door Cinema Club


Next race: Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon - March 24th