On the Run: Martian Invasion of Races 10K 2016

On one of the colder, snowier days we've had in a long time (I swear, spring in southeast Michigan has been colder than winter!), Brian and I reluctantly shed our warm layers and stepped out of the car.  Normally we run from home to Ford Field Park for the Martian Invasion of Races but because of the cold, we decided to drive and park a bit closer.  It was going to be a long morning outside and we needed other clothes nearby.  We were running the 10K at 8:00, cheering for friends finishing the half around 10:30, and meeting my students at 11:15 to run the Kids' Marathon at 12:00.  

It was snowing when we got to the start corral and the winds were picking up.  I wasn't wearing my racing flats and had on my huge warm mittens.  Thank goodness I wasn't planning on racing this thing today, not with Boston a week away.  My plan was to start out at marathon pace (7:15/mile) and drop down if my legs were feeling okay, hoping to get in some good tempo miles.  I didn't start at the front because I didn't want to push the pace.  I also wasn't really paying attention, was talking to people, and all of a sudden the corral was filled up all the way to the start line!  

Thankfully the crowd thinned out quickly.  As planned, I started out at marathon pace.  At the first mile marker I caught up to three ladies, held pace with them, then inched ahead on a slight incline.  (Hill work is paying off!)  One of them caught back up to me and got ahead until mile 2.  At that point the course hits a ramp that heads downhill to Hines Drive.  I had picked up the pace a bit and caught up to her again.  Once we hit Hines - my familiar training ground - I passed her.  I was motivated by volunteers cheering and a cameraman.  I smiled, waved, and thanked them all.  Before I knew it I had pulled away.  When I hit the turn-around and heard a volunteer say "first female" I was shocked.  I hadn't realized no other ladies were ahead of me!  

After the turn-around I saw a few other people I knew to wave at and cheer for, including Brian.  Then the course hits the paved trail section that winds through campus, where it gets a little hilly.  This year the race was small so it was a bit lonely in there.  I only saw two men ahead of me the whole time on the trail.  After chicking the first one I chased the second one the whole way to back to Michigan Avenue, where I was finally able to pass him.  Unlike Rock CF a few weeks ago, my legs felt good and strong finishing.  It was much slower than my best Martian time, but it was a solid tempo run at the end of a less-than-ideal marathon build-up.  

Brian did an amazing job with his race!  He has not been a fan of 10Ks but this one might have made him a convert - even in the wintry conditions!

After the race I ran a couple of cool down miles (in a white-out), then hit Starbucks to warm up with coffee and oatmeal.  Then it was back to the races to cheer on some fellow RUNdetroit Flight Club friends as they finished the half marathon.  I also picked up my award - a stein and medallion from Glass Academy as well as a free entry for next year's Martian 10K.  YAY!

Time

43:20

Pace

6:59/Mile

Fuel

banana

Tunes

E.T. / Katy Perry

S.O.B. / Nathanial Rateliff & The Nightsweats

Shut Up and Dance / WALK THE MOON

Caught Up / Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas

St. Cecelia / Foo Fighters

Born Again Teen / Lucius

Random Name Generator / Wilco

Swell Content / Speedy Ortiz

Something About You / Lucius

Girl From Mars / Ash

The Walker / Fitz & the Tantrums

Deceptacon / Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas

Cadillac, Cadillac / Train

Finally it was time to go meet the 50+ students (4-5th Grade Girls Running Club, plus other boys and girls in K-5) and my co-captain who were coming to run the Martian Kids' Marathon from my school.  Since February the kids have been running and logging miles, trying to run 25 miles total.  Saturday they were lining up to run their final 1.2 miles of the marathon.  At the end they would each receive a marathon medal for their hard work.  

I was so proud of all the mini martians!  While we waited in the cold, the kids warmed up with high knees and knee hugs to get their muscles ready.  Then they ran their hearts out, with smiles on their faces.  Crossing the finish line with these kids made my heart happier than crossing it during my own race.

And see that girl in the pink?  Watch out for that one.  She may be small but she's determined and she's got quite a kick.

On the Run: Martian Invasion of Races 10K 2015

I've been running Martian races since 2010, when I stupidly signed up for my first half marathon the day before the event, lack of training be damned.  Since that race I've come a long way and learned many lessons on my journey (some lessons were more painful than others!).  

As I'm coming back from a long and painful hamstring injury, I'm experience running and racing in a whole new light.  It was with a heavy heart that I made my decision not to go to Boston this year.  As much as I wanted to be a part of the experience again - run the race I'd been planning on since requalifying there last year - I knew my body was not ready for it.  Why risk reinjury?  Why run the race and not enjoy it because I was miserable?  Brian and I talked about going to Boston for race weekend but in my heart I knew that would have been hard for me.  In the end we decided to stay home.

When I made the decision to stay in Dearborn I also did two other things: I signed up for the Martian 10K and got the Girls Running Club started again at my school.  Another teacher and I coach the 4th-5th grade girls to help them log 25 miles in the weeks leading up to the Martian Kids Marathon.  Then on race day, they run their final 1.2.  If I was going to be home I was going to make the most of it!

After I signed up for my race my friend Megan from RUNdetroit asked me if I would pace her for the race.  I didn't have to think twice!  I love Megan and don't get to run with her often enough.   

Race day dawned bright and beautiful.  And warm.  HOT if you ask those running the marathon and half marathon.  Temps reached into the 70's for the kids race at noon.  One thing I love about Martian is that my house is 1.5 miles from the starting line so I can avoid parking and porta potties, plus get in a nice warm-up run on the way.  Megan came over to run there with Brian and me.  He was running the 5K.  We got to the race with only about 10 minutes to spare - just long enough to meet up with the rest of the RUNdetroit Flight Club group that was running and get a group picture.  Our friend Lee was running the 10K, too, and decided to run with us.  

I really like the 10K course.  I ran the half for 4 years and while it's not bad, it's honestly not that great.  The 10K has you on Hines for just long enough not to get boring.  Before that you see some nice Dearborn homes and the Dearborn Country Club. Afterwards you hit the Rouge Gateway Trail and run through UM-Dearborn campus, which has some nice rolling hills.  Megan, Lee, and I stayed together the whole time.  I entertained them with stories to pass the time.  We got some shoutouts for our RUNdetroit jerseys, which is always fun.  

Megan had two goals and she met her secondary goal.  She finished 3rd in her age group. I was so proud of her!  

After the race we stuck around while the other Flight Club members finished the 10K. I love celebrating their PR's with them!  Then we went to Starbucks to refuel and I headed back to the finish area to check on half marathoners.  At that point my girls were starting to arrive for the Kids Marathon.  For most of them it was their first race ever and they were nervous and excited all at once.  They were asking me so many questions!  When it was go time they went for it!  Some of them a little too fast and they had to walk but they always started up again.  I went back for one of my girls who was struggling.  She was jogging when she could and at the end was able to run it in hard to cross the finish line.  I was so proud of each and every one of my 33 students that completed their race that day!

One pain-free lesson I've learned is this: Sometimes you need to run races for other people.  I ran for Megan and I ran for my girls.  I wasn't in Boston last weekend but I ran with happy legs and a happy heart.  And in the end, shouldn't that be why we all run?

Time

52:39

Pace

8:28/Mile

Fuel

CLIF Shot (Vanilla)

Tunes

None - Just the sound of my own voice!

Brian ran his first Martian race and finished 4th in his age group.  He got a PR and his first racing award!

Did you run a Martian Race this year?  Tell me about it!

On the Run: Martian Invasion of Races 10K 2014

The martians invaded Dearborn again!  Every year around this time they come flying into the city and descend upon Ford Field park and the surrounding area.  Never fear - these martians are friendly and come to encourage people of all ages and ability levels to run. The Martian Invasion of Races lineup includes a 5K, 10K, 1/2 marathon, and marathon.  It also has a Kids' Marathon (kids log 25 miles prior to race day and run the last 1.2 at the event).

I've run the 1/2 marathon the last 6 years - it was my first 1/2 ever so I always go back for it - but with Boston just over a week away, I opted for the 10K instead. I was excited to run a 10K again and was shooting for a new PR.  My goal was sub-41:00 and with the interval and speed work training I've been doing, I was pretty confident I would hit my goal.  The course is one I'm familiar with, so that gave me an advantage.  It starts at Ford Field and winds its way through Dearborn to Ford Road where it picks up Hines Drive.  Up to this point there were a few slight hills.  I could see my Boston training paying off because I was able to pass some people and gain ground with each hill and elevation change.  

To get onto Hines we ran down a ramp from Ford Road and then things leveled out on Hines for a nice flat out and back.  Then we hit the paved Rouge River Gateway Greenway Trail, one of my regular training routes.  It has a few decent hills that I've been running hill repeats on the past couple of weeks.  I felt right at home on the trail and was happy to pass the 4-mile marker just after the first hill.  I was right on the heels of a guy who was using me to pace him but was determined not to let me pass him.  As we ran through UM-Dearborn I started closing in on a woman who had been far ahead of me for the whole race.  On a downhill I flew past her.  To exit the trail there is another hill.  Not only did I pass the guy I'd been pacing but also passed 2 others as I powered up that old familiar hill and kept right on going without slowing down.

Now I knew all the hard parts were over.  Everything left was easy and flat.  I checked my watch and saw that it read just over 37:00.  I knew there was no way I could finish in 40:00 but I tried to push as hard as I could.  On the last straightaway before I turned for the finish line I saw Brian taking pictures and my friend Megan cheering me on.  Then I turned for the finish and I gave it my all.  I ran it in hard, feeling strong and proud, finishing under 41:00.  

I set a new PR by 2:59, finished 4th in my age group (beat out of 3rd by 1 second!), 10th woman, and 34th overall.  And I got this sweet little glass martian from the Glass Academy in Dearborn!

Time

40:45

Pace

6:34/Mile

Fuel

Banana

Tunes

Don't Save Me / Haim

Rattlesnake / St. Vincent

The Walker / Fitz & the Tantrums

Anklebiters / Paramore

After the Disco / Broken Bells

I'm Shakin' / Jack White

I Love It / Icona Pop

The Innocent / Mayer Hawthorne

Dance Apocalyptic / Janelle Monae

Mallie Chan / Otto Vector

50 Ways to Say Goodbye / Train

E.T. / Katy Perry

I also ran the Kids' Marathon with my 5th grade Girls' Running Club from school.  For most of the girls it was their first race.  They did such a fabulous job and I'm so proud of them! I love being able to help train and inspire young runners who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity get out and run on their own.  

And here's Megan who ran the 5K and placed 2nd in her age group.  She's amazing! We met at RUNdetroit so we're both representing with our shirts.  We found this nice family of martians who let us pose with them.  Nanu nanu!

Did you run one of the Martian races?  Tell me about it!

Boston Marathon Countdown: 2 Weeks

2 weeks from this moment, I will be done running the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Copley Square.  I will have made my way up and down the Newton Hills; conquered Heartbreak Hill.  I will have taken in all the sights and sounds along the way.  2 weeks from this moment, I will be relaxing and celebrating with Brian.  It's hard to believe it will be here so soon!

But I can't think about all this quite yet.  I still have the race to run.  And I still have 2 weeks of training.  Yes, it's taper time but I need to stay focused.  I'll be running daily, just fewer miles.  As my mileage decreases I'll work on increasing my amount of sleep - something that has been severely lacking in these months of intense training.  That's going to be huge for me - making sure I'm well-rested. I've done so well staying healthy and I need to keep that up in these final days.  (2nd graders - keep your germs away!)

All in all, the past 2 weeks of training haven't been too intense, which has helped me rest up a bit.  I finished out week 13 with a 4-minute PR at the Rock CF 1/2 marathon.  That was a big boost for me near the end of my training!  Nice to see my hard work paying off.

I just have one more race - the Martian Invasion of Races 10K this Saturday - before the big day.  I won't go too hard at it.  I usually do the half so it will be strange to just be running the 10K.  I'll also be there running the Kids Marathon with my Girl's Running Club from school.  It will be a nice last weekend before heading to Boston the next Saturday. 

Here's my training from the past two weeks:

I'll check back in before I hop on the plane.  Happy Running!

Previous Boston Marathon Countdown Posts: 14 Weeks, 12 Weeks, 10 Weeks, 8 Weeks, 6 Weeks, 4 Weeks