On the Run: DX-A2 1/2 Marathon 2015

Last Sunday was my post-injury half marathon debut.  Although it was 4th time racing the Dexter-Ann Arbor half and my 22nd half marathon, I was anxious.  Anxious about anything and everything.

• Hamstring:  It's not 100% pain-free and I wasn't sure what the combination of 13 miles, hills, and increased pace would do to it.
• Pace:  Could I handle the pace I've been working on during speed work for the duration of the race?  My 9k on Memorial Day was hard and that was less than half the distance.
• Fuel:  I'm finding that my fueling needs have changed since I've started racing again.  What used to sustain me for a 5k or 10k just isn't enough.  I needed to figure out a plan for 13 miles so I didn't bonk.
• Weather:  As if all that wasn't enough to worry about, the forecast changed from 60 degrees and sunny to 50 degrees and 100% chance of rain.  

To help set my mind at ease, I talked through pacing with Coach Terra earlier in the week.  My bestie Megan helped me figure out fueling.  My hamstring was going to be a nagging issue but I could push through for the race.

That left the rain.  I don't mind running in the rain but I wasn't looking forward to the combination of wind, chilly temps, and 13 miles.  I texted Terra the day before and told her as much.  Her response was just what I needed to hear: "You are Detroit Tough.  Face it and embrace it."  Face it and embrace it.  Hmmm...  I liked that.  I was going to use that as my mantra when the going got tough.

Saturday evening when I made my playlist, I put a few special rain-themed songs on it.  I made my chia pudding and added some PB2 for an extra boost.  I laid out my gear, including two CLIF Shots.  I was still a bit jittery but not as nervous as I'd been.  Everything would fall into place.

Race day dawned just as dark and rainy as predicted.  As he always does, Brian drove me to the staging area in Dexter so I didn't have to take a bus from Ann Arbor.  (The course is not looped.)  It was pouring and he kept asking if I still wanted to run it.  I knew he was worried about me but I was ready.  After months of base-training, speed work, and long runs, there was no way I was going to let a little rain stop me from seeing what my hamstring could do.  With a valet stop at the port-a-potty and a kiss good-bye, I ran into the school to stay dry for as long as I could.  

While I waited, I passed the time in a bathroom line talking to a really friendly girl.  Then I found my RUNdetroit friends in the gym and Coach Geo from Detroit Tough.  I did some run drills (high knees, walking lunge with twist, drinking bird) instead of a warm-up mile.  During the National Anthem I finally went outside to wait in the rain.  I found the 1:35 pace team and decided to run with them.  I needed some company, at least for a while.

By the time the race started I was wet enough that it didn't seem bad anymore.  Once I hit the first puddle I was set.  Face it and embrace it.  It was a medium steady rain, never a downpour, and actually kept my body temperature cool enough throughout the race.  All in all it turned out to be much better than expected.

I was running slightly behind the pacers, making sure to stick with them.  I was trying to keep my head in the game, not worrying about how many miles were ahead of me.  One mile at a time; run each one and forget about it.  (More words of wisdom from Coach Terra.)  After turning onto Huron River Drive about 3 miles in, the group spread out a bit. One of the pacers asked me if I was going to pace the group because I seemed fast.  I explained that I was going to hang with them for a while and not try to push the pace.  We got to talking about different races and ran together for a couple of miles.  It was nice to have someone to talk to for a while.  There were also two girls near the pace group that I chatted with a bit.  They were keeping a good pace but accelerating a bit.  At one point I told them my goal was to stay with them or at least keep them in my sights!

I stayed with the pace group for maybe the first 5-6 miles before gradually starting to pick it up a bit.  I didn't get that far ahead because for a while I could still hear the pacer shouting out the splits at each mile.  He had them slightly ahead each time.  I took my gel around 5.5, drank a cup of water at mile 6.  I started to worry because I still had more than half the race to go.  Then I thought about those first 6 miles . . . and I put them behind me.  They were done.  I felt a renewed push and ran on, feeling stronger.  

My hamstring started talking to me at mile 8 but it was manageable.  When I got to mile 10 and there was only 5k left, I really tried to focus on looking forward, staying strong, not worrying about the Garmin.  The next mile went by pretty easily that way.  I chicked a couple of dudes and caught back up to one of the two girls who had been running in the pace group (one was way out of sight).  At the mile 12 water station someone shouted out, "Vegan runner!" which totally made my day!

Coming up off of Huron River Drive onto Main Street is a sizable hill, which I handled pretty well.  I probably used up more energy on that and in the next half mile, however, because by the time I neared the finish I didn't have much left for a final push.  One of the girls that I'd been going back and forth with and had passed before that big hill caught up to me in the final stretch and beat me in the end.  I sure wouldn't have done as well overall without her and we congratulated each other at the finish.  There were a few guys that had been near us that all had similar comments, as well.  I love the camaraderie at this race.  

As soon as I got my medal I looked up to see Brian waiting for me.  By then the rain had just about stopped.  He snapped this picture of me.  You can't fake this happiness!

We hurried over to where the RUNdetroit cheering section was to see Coach Geo finish, along with the rest of the RUNdetroit Flight Club.  I was in such a rush to get over there I forgot to grab a post-race banana!  

I finally had to go get changed into dry clothes (complete change in the car) and then I went down the street to Starbucks for my usual post-race Starbucks coffee and oatmeal.  I seriously run for coffee!

I was so proud of myself for finishing at the goal Terra and I had set.  I'd stuck to my pacing plan, run a negative split, fueled properly, and most importantly raced with happy legs and a happy heart!  

Time 

1:33:21

Pace 

7:07/mile

Fuel 

Chia pudding & banana (pre-race) CLIF Shot (mile 5.5)

Tunes

Caught in the Rain / Preston School of Industry

Back to the Shack / Weezer

Last Raindrop / Fitz & the Tantrums

You Called Me / Mayor Hawthorne

All About That Bass / Meghan Trainor

The Feast and the Famine / Foo Fighters

Believer / American Authors

Sorry I Stole Your Man / Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas

Shut Up and Dance / WALK THE MOON

Rainy Taxi / Spoon

I Bet My Life / Imagine Dragons

I'm Shakin' / Jack White

50 Ways to Say Goodbye / Train

Move Like You Stole It / ZZ Ward

Only Happy When it Rains / Garbage

The Innocent / Mayer Hawthorne

Cheer Up Boys (Your Make Up Is Running) / Foo Fighters

One Engine / The Decemberists

Can't Hold Us / Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Brave / Sara Bareilles

Set Fire to the Rain / Adele

Previous DX-A2 race recaps:

On the Run: DX-A2 1/2 Marathon 2011

On the Run: DX-A2 1/2 Marathon 2012

On the Run: DX-A2 1/2 Marathon 2013

Have you run a rainy race?  How did it go?

On the Run: Wins for Warriors 9K 2015

Last Monday was Memorial Day and I was lucky to have a 4-day weekend away from work!  Brian and I really made the most of it - family wedding Friday night, RUNdetroit group run and Avalon on Saturday morning plus more family time later.  Sunday we went to a Tigers game followed by dinner at Green Dot Stables.  That alone would have made for an amazing weekend.

But it wasn't over yet!  Monday was the Wins for Warriors 9K.  There were several other Memorial Day races but we chose this one for a few reasons.  First of all, it was at Comerica Park.  Brian was excited about the opportunity to finish at home plate.  It was also a charity race benefiting veteran's mental health services, something I believe is overlooked and under-supported.  Plus the race was in Detroit, one of my favorite places to run.  I was looking forward to a new route through some of my favorite places.  

Wins for Warriors 9K Course Map

After we signed up we found out a few of our friends from RUNdetroit Flight Club also were running, as well.  Wahoo!  On race day we met at the store at 8am and carpooled to the park.  Packet pickup was super easy because the race was very small (only 349 participants).  The shirts were cool but unfortunately there weren't any smalls.  I'm not sure they even ordered them!  I'm glad Brian likes his because now he has two.

While we were waiting for the race to start, we took lots of photos.  

This is the best one - it showed up on several Facebook pages and Instagram feeds (such as Opportunity Detroit and Wins for Warriors).

One great thing about having the race at Comerica Park is that we were able to use the restrooms in the park.  ALL THE RESTROOMS!  Plus real sinks, hand dryers, and drinking fountains.  It was a dream.  

Before the race started there was an opening ceremony and then Justin Verlander did a video countdown on the big screen.  I was up at the front talking to people and didn't realize the countdown was going.  As the gun went off, I started my Garmin but had to fumble to turn up the volume on my iPod, clip it on my shorts, and find my gum - all while running.  By the third turn around the stadium I was settled in.  

I wasn't sure what pace I was going to be able to run.  I'd only raced one 5K road race since coming back.  My speed work has been 7:05 pace so I thought I'd start out there and see where things went.  I was a bit nervous but trying not to let it get it to my head.  Once I got to the Riverwalk I thought I'd be fine.

A bunch of guys had passed me right out of the gate but after a mile I was able to catch up and pass 2 of them.  Another guy with a RUNdetroit shirt caught up to me.  We were kinda going back and forth but not exactly on pace with each other.  Since the race was so small there wasn't really anyone to follow - just one guy in a red tank top way ahead in the distance.  It was a little lonely.  I was grateful for the fishermen and walkers out on the Riverwalk.

Just before the halfway point, a guy caught up to me.  We both told each other good job.  Then he said, "Hey I'm not trying to pass you."  (I thought, dude it's a race.  Isn't that the point?  haha!)  "I just need someone to pace with."  I was really grateful because it was at that point that my brain was kicking in and telling me that it was getting hard.  Not my legs but my head.  I needed company.  His name was Matt.  We ended up running the rest of the race together, chatting the whole time.  I was especially grateful when there wasn't a course marshall at a turn after the Riverwalk and we didn't know where to go.  (Thank you random spectators!)  And again when I felt like I was bonking out close to the 5 mile marker.  (Turns out that mile 5 was my slowest mile - probably the wind and nearly getting lost didn't help either!)  Had Matt not been running with me I wouldn't have enjoyed the race as much as I did.  I kept my pace even at the end to finish strong while he gave a huge kick to fly across the finish line!  

After crossing the finish line we were ushered down a tunnel onto the field level.  I ran down with Matt, the guy in the RUNdetroit shirt, and a couple of other guys who'd finished before us.   We got to run around the whole warning track to get our medals.  After that we were allowed to hang out down there as long as we wanted - sit in the stands, play in the dugout.  It was really cool.  

After everyone was done we took more pictures.  It was raining by that point so we headed up to get snacks and check results.  I finished 1st female and 7th overall!  There was going to be an awards ceremony at 11:00 (which seemed a long time after a 9:00 race start) but they let me take my award early.

Fox news was there reporting.  Check out this video clip to see a little more about the race.  Watch closely and you'll see me receiving my medal inside the stadium!

The snacks were good - water, perfect bananas, bagels, Whole Foods granola bars, and cookies (not everything vegan but my friends can vouch for their deliciousness).  There were several veterans' organizations with tables.  All in all it was a fun race - great course, perfect location, and friendly people.  Hopefully next year more volunteers will show up for course marshalling and they will have small tee shirts. I will definitely do this one again.  I had a hard time with fund raising (Running in my underwear?  Easy to fundraise!  Veteran's mental health?  Crickets.) but maybe next year I can generate a little more interest.  

Time 

39:30

Pace 

7:04/mile

Fuel 

Banana

Tunes*

My Hero / Foo Fighters

A Long Time / Mayer Hawthorne

Digital Witness / St. Vincent

Lazaretto / Jack White

Crawling to the USA / Elvis Costello

Kids in America / The Muffs

Sixteen Saltines / Jack White

Run Right Back / The Black Keys

Water Fountain / tUnE-yArDs

The Feast and the Famine / Foo Fighters

Gotta Get Away / The Black Keys

Felt / Garbage

Verlander's Instagram from the race.  That's me at the front!  The bad*ss guy on the far right won with a 5:08 pace.  He said he was going to "take it easy".

Did you run a race on Memorial Day?  Tell me about it!

On the Run: DEFF Unity Run 5K 2015

Three weeks ago I ran my first competitive race this season and did fairly well. I hadn't had a pacing plan, however, and was already looking forward to my next chance to run a faster race with even or negative splits.  

Just a few days later I received an email attachment at work about a 5K in Dearborn, just a mile and a half from my house.  The race was the DEFF Unity run, hosted by the three high schools in the school district - Dearborn High, Edsel Ford, and Fordson (DEFF).  The event is sponsored by the Anti-Bullying, Peer-to-Peer, and Diversity teams at the three schools. Proceeds for the event funded an annual Dearborn Public Schools Student Leadership Diversity Summit and a scholarship for students involved in the programs sponsoring the event.  It sounded like a great cause in my school district, the race was close to home, and I was looking for another chance to run a 5K.  Perfect!   I convinced Brian to run the race, too.

On race morning, I ran to the start for my warm-up (1.5 miles).  There were several events that morning - a 1-mile race for elementary students, a 2-mile race for middle schoolers, and 2 5K races (adult and high school age).  Ours didn't start until 10:30 so I was able to sleep in.  I hadn't gotten any information about the course beforehand and assumed it would be through the neighborhoods around Ford Field where the race started.  Well, we all know what happens when you assume.

The race was not on the roads at all.  Unbeknownst to us, Brian and I had just signed up for a trail race, which we found out at the grassy start line as the course was being explained to us.  I looked down at my Fasttwitch racing flats and thought, "Oh sh*t."  And then I laughed.  Because I had to.  Pacing plan went out the window.  This was my first trail race in almost two years.  Anything could happen.  Time to just go with it and have fun!

With an "On your mark, get set, GO!" we were off.  We started off on the grass, instructed to keep picnic tables to our left and the Rouge River to our right.  The beginning of the race was in Ford Field Park.  I was leading through the park until we hit the Rouge River Trail.  At this point I was passed by Don, another teacher in the district.  I was relieved to have someone to follow, considering I had no idea where we were going and the course wasn't all that well marked.  About a mile in I was itching to pass but the trail is narrow and I didn't see an opportunity to make my move.  

As we neared the halfway point we were instructed by a volunteer to turn left.  Don was still in the lead.  Suddenly we ran into another runner who'd been behind us.  We'd gone the wrong way!  We were in the turn-around loop so we just turned around and ran the other way.  This put me in the lead and allowed me to pick up the pace.  I knew where I was going this time, so that helped, as well.

As I exited the trail back into the park, I almost went the wrong way again.  At the last second two young volunteers noticed me (they'd just been lolly-gagging around instead of paying attention) and pointed me in the right direction.  From there the course took me up a steep grassy hill where I slowed down because there were no markings as to where to go next.  This is where Don caught up and passed me.  I chased him across the top of the hill to where the flags were (I didn't see them!).  Then it was down the hill, up and down a smaller hill (at this point I passed him again), and across a grassy stretch to the finish.  

After finishing, I cheered on the rest of the racers (of which there were only 18 total - it was a tiny race!).  Brian finished his first trail race in 27:29 and loved it.  One of the best parts is that the Rouge River Trail is just a mile and a half from our house and we didn't even know it was there!  Even though it wasn't what we expected for our race that day in some ways it was even better!

Time 

22:55

Pace 

7:23/mile

Fuel 

Banana

Tunes*

Get Ready / Mayer Hawthorne

Rattlesnake / St. Vincent

I Love It / Icona Pop

Cadillac, Cadillac / Train

The Feast and the Famine / Foo Fighters

Runaway Baby / Bruno Mars

Sabatoge / Beastie Boys

*I wouldn't normally listen to music for a trail race.  I didn't know it was a trail race and then when I realized it was the field was so small I figured it would be okay.

I actually received the wrong medal.  The back of mine says "One Mile Walk".  My first OA award and it was wrong.  (So just don't turn it over!)

After we got our awards I headed to the Rouge River Gateway Trail (paved) for the rest of my long run.  I needed another 6 miles to get 10 total for the day.  It was really hot by then but much of the trail is shaded, so that helped.  I usually prefer to run earlier in the day but wanted fresh legs for the race.  Had I known it was a trail race, however, I may have planned things a bit differently.

Brian and I had a lot of fun with this race.  Hopefully next year - year 3 - they will make some improvements.  More volunteers on the course and/or better markings would be a huge help.  I got off course a few times!  (True, I am known for getting lost in races but still...)  Dearborn schools publicized the race within the schools but not much to runners outside of the district.  The trail is beautiful - like a mini, no-frills Flirt with Dirt - so hopefully next year it will attract more runners.  I offered to help and will do so again next year.

In the meantime, Brian and I will have to get back to the River Rouge Trail this summer to take a break from the pavement - especially since it's right in our own backyard!

For anyone familiar with the Dearborn area, you can see where the Rouge River Trail is located.  I only ran on a small portion of it for the race but will run the whole loop this summer.

Do you enjoy running or racing on trails?

On the Run: Run with the Cops 5K 2015

In my post last week for the Martian 10k, I wrote about the importance of taking the time to run for others.  Coming back from an injury, it's been nice to ease back into racing by running for fun with friends.  No pressure.  I've also needed more time to work on my speed work safely under the guidance of Coach Terra.

With two weeks of speed work under my belt, I decided it was time to test out the hamstring with a 5K race.  The last few races I'd run with or for others; this one was for myself.  Run with the Cops was a 2015 target race for RUNdetroit Flight Club and RUNdetroit was sponsoring the event.  What better place for my first "official" race of the season?

The race was on Belle Isle.  I parked near the Casino, which ended up being about a mile from the start.  That was perfect because I needed to get a mile warm-up in before the race.  The race was staged in cute little village area outside of the zoo.  Because it was Run with the Cops, the Detroit Police Department was there with horses, cars, and a bomb squad.  It was pretty cool to have all that there before and after the race.  Had I remembered to bring my phone I would have taken some photos!

The 10K race started at 9:30, followed by the 5K at 9:45.  This gave me enough time to do my run drills and be good and warmed up before the race.  I didn't have a pacing plan because I hadn't raced a 5K since, um, March 2014 I think (Mustache Dache doesn't count since I in bad shape post-marathon).  And that was when I was healthy and in my best Boston shape.  I knew I wasn't going to be anywhere near that so I wanted to just go out and see what I could do today.

Want to know what I did?  I ran like a kid in my first race!  I went balls to the wall from the start and slowed down with each mile.  My splits were 6:34, 6:48, 7:00.  Hardly the racing strategy of the pros.  Or anyone who knows anything about racing.  HA!

I was able to keep close to the front of the pack for most of the race.  Around the halfway point I chicked one of the dudes (Captain America - so that felt pretty good).  When I hit mile 2 I finally passed another guy I'd been chasing down for some time.  He'd been running strong so I knew I would have to push the pace to maintain my lead.  I was confident I'd beaten him - until I hit the 3 mile marker and I heard footsteps behind me.  I glanced over my shoulder and there he was!  Seriously??  This guy was good.  He slowly but surely took the lead and that lead steadily grew.  We rounded a corner, turning left into the final stretch to the finish.  Suddenly he had this kick like I've never seen and left me in his dust.  What a finish!  I gave it my all and finished strong - 2rd female and 5th overall.  

Oh happy day - a RUNdetroit gift certificate!

Although my pacing wasn't well-planned, I was happy with my overall time.  Only 1:03 to shave off and I'll be down to my PR.  More speed work to be done - at consistent paces!

I really enjoyed Run with the Cops.  While Belle Isle isn't my favorite place for long races, I think it's great for a 5K or 10K.  The other races I've done have started at the Casino but this started outside the zoo.  It was fun to run the loop starting at a different point.  All the participants were nice and relaxed at the start and very encouraging at the end.  The race supports the For a Day Foundation.  I always love a good race that supports a charity.  

After the race I hung out for a bit while other runners and walkers finished both the 5K and 10K.  There were some sweet old-school jams playing that totally made my day.  Seriously, how can you not love a race that plays MC Hammer at the finish line??  After the rest of RUNdetroit Flight Club finished I picked up a water and banana from a friendly volunteer and then ran my mile cool-down back to the car.  

I recommend this race and hope I'm able to do it again next year!

I didn't get any photos at the race so Brian took my picture when I got home.  I couldn't be happier to be back to racing!

Time 

21:06

Pace 

6:48/mile

Fuel 

CLIF Shot (Vanilla)

Tunes

Violent Shiver / Benjamin Booker

I've Had It Up to Here / Weezer

Shake It Off / Taylor Swift

The Innocent / Mayor Hawthorne

50 Ways to Say Goodbye / Train

Dancing Shoes / Arctic Monkeys

Man / Neko Case

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: Rock CF 1/2 Marathon Relay 2015

Emily Schaller, you've outdone yourself yet again.  Emily is the tireless race director who expertly executed a 5th Rock CF that was somehow even more spectacular than last year's event.  I always encourage any runner to participate and I wouldn't miss it for anything.

When I had my PRP injection in February and was looking at recovery time, I started panicking about Rock CF.  I am already missing Boston.  Missing Rock CF would actually be worse.  There was no way I would be ready for a half marathon but thankfully this event is more than just a half marathon.  There is also a 5k and a half marathon relay, split into legs of 7.7 miles  and 5.5 miles.  At first I planned on doing the 5k.  The distance would be good.  Then my friend and Girls Running Club coaching partner asked if I would relay with her.  Nicole had planned on the half but hadn't been able to train enough.  The relay would give me more miles, plus alleviate the anxiety of a 5k.  If I ran leg 2 (5.5 miles) I wouldn't have the pressure of starting a race, either.  I could either race it or just run it depending on how I felt when the day came.  No pressure.

Leading up to race day I'd been following my coach's plan of running easy, base-building miles.  My last 4-6 weeks have looked like this: 6 days running 4-5 miles at 8:30-9:00 pace, biking a few days a week, and Mechanics at Detroit Tough 2 days a week.  One day of rest.  For the race I would start at 7:30/mile and see how I felt, hoping to drop down from there (keeping in mind I'm still not 100% healed).

Similar to Corktown earlier this month, I didn't approach this race like most other races. I was running leg 2, so I wouldn't be starting the race at the same time as anyone else.  That was a bit of a game-changer.  It threw things off a bit in terms of warm-up, fueling, bathroom, etc.  Much of that would be done at the relay exchange point while I was waiting for my runner to come in.  

Because I wouldn't need to do those things until the exchange, Brian and I took the opportunity to volunteer at race-day packet pickup.  We're always there early for parking so we figured we may as well do something productive!  One of my goals this year is to volunteer at more races and what better race to start with than Rock CF.  We had so much fun with the other volunteers and loved helping runners and wishing them well on their race.  We got cool shirts for volunteering AND Emily even surprised me with a bib from the Groundhog Day race that didn't get to happen last year due to icy conditions.  

Brian stayed to help man the table until 8:00; however, I left a little early to get in on a RUNdetroit group photo and board the shuttle bus.  Waiting on the bus was probably the hardest part!  It was nice and warm but just sitting wasn't an ideal way to get ready to run.  Finally I had to get off the bus.

The only other relay I've done was The Great Lakes Relay in 2013.  I kind of forgot the excitement that comes with waiting for your runner to come in.  I was standing in the chute, trying to remember what Nicole was wearing, when I heard the announcer say her number.  I started jumping up and down and yelled to the person on my right, "1641!  That's my runner!"  When I saw her coming I shouted to another random runner, "There she is!  There's Nicole!"  I told Nicole how great she did but she was waving me on telling me to go go go!  I was so excited I almost forgot to run!  

So then I was off!  (And eventually remembered to start my Garmin.)  I ran through the water station and and into the stream of half marathon runners.  It was a gorgeous day.  The sun was shining and the water was to my right.  I was so happy to be out on my favorite race course again.  I was doing well running 7:30's and although I'd hoped to drop down, I quickly realized that wasn't going to be realistic.  My hamstring felt good but I was pushing hard to maintain my pace.  I didn't want to overdo it.  What I was feeling more than my legs, however, was hunger.  That is what slowed me down more than anything. I hadn't fueled properly and it was taking its toll.  So I listened to my body and did what I could.  I wasn't going to let anything take away the enjoyment of this race!

I wasn't on the course long before I made it to the Naval Station Hangar, which is the start of the 5k race hosted by RUNdetroit.  Justin Craig, RUNdetroit co-owner and 5k race director, was outside the hanger to cheer and offer support.  Only another 3.1 miles left?  Wow, this race was going fast!  Although it was a chilly day I was really warming up with the sunshine.  The wind had died down so my gloves came off.  I had already seen a few fellow RUNdetroit Flight Club friends (easily recognizable by the distinctive wings on our jerseys) on the course and saw several more as I made my way to the river.  

Due to snow on the track, the race didn't finish in the usual location.  Instead of finishing on the high school track, it ended at the middle school.  This meant more of the course was along the river at the end.  I loved this change, especially since I didn't get to run along the river starting the race.  The new finishing chute was pretty amazing, too.  Nice and long, with great crowd support all along.  I felt like a star running through it!  The first person I saw when I was done was Emily, watching each runner cross the line.  I found Brian.  Nicole was waiting for me.

I think this was my happiest Rock CF finish ever!  No worries about PRs or placing.  Just happy running, pure and simple.  

Time

38:56

Pace

7:05/mile*

Fuel

Banana, CLIF Shot (vanilla)

Tunes

Nobody Really Cares if You Don't Go to the Party / Courtney Barnett
Birth in Reverse / St. Vincent
I've Had it Up to Here / Weezer
All Hands on the Bad One / Sleater-Kinney
Bitter Rivals / Sleigh Bells
The Middle / Jimmy Eat World
Youth Without Youth / Metric
Blood for Poppies / Garbage
Anklebiters / Paramore
Man / Neko Case
Jaded / Green Day
Run Right Back / The Black Keys
The Feast and the Famine / Foo Fighters

*Official time, based on 5.5 miles.  Garmin shows that the course was 5.23 miles for an average pace of 7:23/mile.  That's more realistic!

For fun, check out my other Rock CF posts!

2011

2012

2013

2014

Did you run Rock CF this year?

On the Run: Corktown Race 2015

On Sunday, March 15th I ran the Corktown 5k, my first race in over 4 months.  This was a race of firsts for me.  First pain-free race since injuring myself by running the Novi 1/2 Marathon last May.  First time racing with Brian (we ran side by side from start to finish). First team event with my gym, Detroit Tough.  Most importantly, this was the first time in years I raced completely happy and carefree, not trying to push myself too hard or worrying about what place I finished.  

For those of you not from the Detroit area, the Sunday before St. Patrick's Day basically IS St. Patrick's Day.  That's when Corktown celebrates with the race at 10am, followed by the parade at noon (drinking and shenanigans all day).  I ran the race for the first time last year but have never been to the parade.  Honestly, I'm not up to dealing with all the craziness!  

Brian and I parked at Mudgie's to stay warm and have some pre-race coffee.  I've never had coffee before a 5k but hey, there's a first for everything!  From there we could walk the few blocks to the gym to meet everyone, take a group photo, and head to the start as a team.  I loved that Brian got to meet a lot of my Detroit Tough family for the first time!

We had just enough time to get in a warm up run, do some run drills (high knees, butt kicks, walking lunges), and squeeze into our corral with a few minutes to spare before the start.  This race is huge so they have several corrals based on your finish time.  We were in the first one but toward the back.  Brian's goal was to finish in 25:00, which would be a PR for him.  My goal was to make sure he did just that.

Because of the rush at the beginning, we started out faster than planned.  Brian was doing great so we just kept it up.  I chatted the whole time, waved to people, thanked volunteers.  The people-watching was great - lots of costumes and crazy get-ups.  We paced a guy in lime-green spandex and an orange mullet for most of the race.  It was awesome.  He beat us - but not by a lot!  We ended up finishing under 25:00.  Brian beat his Mustache Dache time by over a minute and he also beat me by 1 second!  He was NOT letting me win this race.  haha.  

We got our medals and saw a whole group of Detroit Tough friends waiting for us.  
Like Megan - my amazing new friend!  We also saw several fellow RUNdetroit Flight Club friends too!



After the race we headed back to the gym for a potluck brunch - and a little monkeying around!

Running a race with my friends and family - after so many months of injury - filled me with such joy and happiness.  No nerves, no stress, no worries.  Among the (many) things I've learned from my injury, one lesson is this: not every race has to be your own.  Race with and for someone you love.

Time

24:44

Pace

7:58/mile

Fuel

banana

Tunes

none (first race without music!)