Race Report - Atlanta Half Marathon

This was a great race. New corralling procedure at the race start was a little different but worked out fine. I haven't read any articles yet about the race so I don't know whether the organizers liked how it worked out or not. I was in the second start group this year just because my pre-registration got messed up and I had to register in person on Tuesday before the race during the race expo - all they had left were numbers in the second start group.

I went out hard at the beginning, in part for adrenaline, part for confidence, part for warmth and part for wanting to not tick off all the other starters in my group who belonged there! Probably I'd have gone faster overall if I'd started slower. I know how these things work - but I just had to do it anyway. I guess my confidence got the better of me? I can't remember feeling this confident about the distance in several years. I'll have to have a big serving of humble pie next year...

I had dressed right, which was a relief. The weather report said 34 degrees/feels like 27. Brr. And it predicted that halfway through my race it would feel like 29. Double Brr. I wore my race bra, my Atlanta Half technical long sleeve (they finally did away with the cotton long sleeve T-shirt - what a great move!) and my cycling windbreaker. Long running pants, and a fleece hat. I was worried it wouldn't be enough but it was just right. Oh, and the disposable mittens. Which I never dispose of. I have a few year's worth of these as souvenirs.

There were fewer people cheering along the way than usual. Probable due to the cold. I think they had over 11,000 runners but the fans stayed in bed. The large registration was in part due to the new sponsor, The Weather Channel. They gave money, but not sunshine!

I was averaging about 9 minute miles through mile 9 (which is GREAT for me). Then hit the wall. I had a chance to come in under two hours but just couldn't maintain my speed. My knee caps hurt, which usually isn't really a problem, which impacted my speed some. But I just didn't pace properly. And I found the "wall" everyone dreads. I was able to pick up the pace again around mile 11 but now was back to hoping for my original goal for an average 10-minute mile.

I still managed to be my time goal of 2:11 by one minute. So I'm proud. I ran 13.1 9:59 minute miles. I finished 149th out of 392 in my age group (female 45 - 49).

It was still chilly at the end of the race and the aluminum foil blanket they give you was very well appreciated. I made it home in plenty of time to get my turkey dressed and in the oven on time. And ate, ate, ate - as I well deserved - the rest of the weekend.

I'd said this would be my last half marathon - that I was going to focus on triathlons now since they are easier on the body - but I just don't know....It sure would be nice to finish in the top third of my age group next year!

Last Long Run Before the BIG One

So this weekend is the last long run before the Atlanta Half. Somewhere during the last year I lost major speed and I have no idea where I put it. I keep thinking it will turn back up but so far it eludes me. Just like my car keys in the morning. Another by-product of menopause I guess :)

Lately I've been doing my training exclusively around the golf course at Brookhaven Country Club because I can run entirely on pavement instead of concrete and it's quite hilly which will help me prepare for Cardiac Hill at Piedmont Hospital and beyond. Running on concrete compounded an IT problem 4 years ago while training for the Atlanta Half and I had to miss the event so I have learned to stay off concrete sidewalks unless I am running less than 5 miles and even then it makes me very nervous. My favorite is trail running but at the moment I don't live by any hilly running or mountain bike trails. I will admit that the closer it gets to a race the less likely I am to be found on a trail though - the risk of turning an ankle on a rock or tree root is too great.

Running this fall has been unbelievable in Atlanta. There hasn't been a weekend day that hasn't been absolutely gorgeous, with perfect temperatures and little to no wind. It's so much easier to take that last lap around the course when the sky is so blue and the changing leaves contrast so sharply. And certainly, while I am nearly literally crawling the last few miles, the incredible scenery makes it all worthwhile.

Saturday, 13 miles. Then down to several 5 and 6-ers every few days until race day on the 27th. Wish me luck and watch for my race report after Turkey Day! And if you're watching from the sidelines on Peachtree Street, cheer me on when you see my Team in Training (TNT) jersey and cheer on all my fellow TNT athletes too! Go Team!

Back on Track

Since my last post things have been going great in the running shoes. I've done two 12-milers (both around Brookhaven Country Club in Atlanta) and then this past Sunday a 9-mile run. My time has suffered (well, of course with age...) from a tentative feeling about my knees and re-injuring. The first 12 was at about 13 minute miles and the second at about 11 or so. Normally I am proud of a 10-minute mile but I don't want them to roll up the sidewalk in front of me at the Atlanta Half Marathon! So I did the 9 this past weekend with speed in mind and I think...with the confidence from finishing the previous two long runs without any problems besides normal fatigue and stiffness AND the slightly shorter distance...that I was able to run much closer to a 10-min mile.
With four weeks to go, I am trying for the following: 11, 13, 9, 6 (if Saturday) or 4 (if Sunday). I'll be sticking to pace as my focus except for the 13-miler. That run will be about finishing comfortably. Or maybe I'll get the 13 out of the way and then focus on time the rest of the way. It will all depend on how I can carb up to coincide with available time for a slow 13 this weekend. Isn't that one of the big challenges - making it align with everything we women also have on the calendar?
If you're interested in upcoming Team in Training events, I just got my mailer a week or so ago and here's the stuff to choose from during the spring season:

• ING Georgia Run/Walk Half Marathon and Marathon (Atlanta, GA) on 3-29-09
• Country Music Marathon and Half (Nashville, TN) on 4-25-09
• St Anthony's Triathlon, St. Petersburg FL (Triathlon) 4-26-09
• Gulf Coast Triathlon, Panama City Beach, FL (Half Ironman) 5-9-09

If you are interested in having some terrific training, camaraderie, fundraising support and fun while getting in shape and taking on a new challenge, look into Team in Training, at http://www.teamintraining.org/. If you want to join one of the above teams, informational meetings are happening through about the 10th or so of November so hurry! I can't say enough great things about this group. I will do a triathlon with them next year and maybe even Mentor for a second event. Raising money to help prevent blood cancers, and help the patients of blood cancer diseases, is an important cause. 75% of all funds raised through TNT go directly to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and are tax deductible.

Gearing Up for Atlanta Half Marathon

I did a 10 mile long-run last Saturday at Powers Ferry Landing, right by the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta, GA. It was a beautiful weekend and there were very few other runners on the course that afternoon, presumably everybody home watching college football, which we take very seriously here in Atlanta. The run was fine and I really wasn't nearly as sore or dehydrated as I'd expected. I'm feeling like I'm racing against time to build up my mileage sufficiently for 13.1 miles on Thanksgiving Day, which is when our half marathon and marathon are held.

Due to the knee injury in August my training routine has been "alternative" to say the least. To avoid another stress injury I am all but cutting out the short runs during the week, usually substituting swimming for the cardio. Anyway, I'm sure some speed training would be good - so they don't roll up the sidewalks on me on race day! I will work some in there somewhere. I am seriously wondering about these ice baths I keep reading about in Runners World, Bicycling and Triathlon magazines. Have any of you ladies ACTUALLY done these? Do they work? I know as I build the miles I'm going to be fighting joint and muscle fatigue and any advice on healing techniques will be greatly appreciated.

More on Last Blog

I skipped a step between the post at the end of August and the one earlier today. I should have filled in the blanks for you guys reading this:

At the end of August I went to do that long run and couldn't make 8 miles - I had to stop after 6 :(. 4 days later I was still limping so I go to my trusty orthopaedic who says "Lay off it for 3 weeks" like it was as easy as skipping desert just one night! My head goes wacky when I can't run, not to mention what happens to my waistline.

So starting back up the 3rd week of September at 6 miles and trying to get to 13 in one month just isn't smart. So, I talked with Team in Training and they agreed and understood.

Anyway, now trying to make up miles and looking for advice as to how to do this without re-injuring myself. Please comment!

Oh, and another question: lately I keep reading about ice baths (Runner's World, Triathlete, Bicycling). Who has ACTUALLY, willingly sat in a tub of ice for 10 minutes??? Does it deserve the rave reviews, or is it raving lunatics taking ice baths? Please comment on this also.

Back on Track

Finally! I awaited the allotted 3 weeks of "rest" to heal my knee and took it out for a test drive on a "long run" last weekend. 6 miles, no pain! So I'm back to my training regimen and much happier for it! Well, back to training. My running regimen will have to be altered - Team in Training has been kind enough to allow me, with my doctor's note, to switch events and run and fundraise for the Atlanta Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day instead of the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco on October 19. I was really looking forward to running the race in San Francisco (it's nearly impossible to get a number for the Women's Half out there) but I have to say I am just really thrilled at this point to be back into my running shoes at all.

So, new event and new training schedule. It's tricky to accelerate a training program and not get injured (or in this case re-injured). At least that is what I have learned from my past! I haven't quite figured all the long runs out because I have quite a bit of travel this fall as well. I usually add a mile every 2 weeks with an 8 miler on the alternate week but that won't get me to 13 before the actual race so I guess I will be adding 2 miles some weeks. Anybody out there have a safe way to add miles quickly? I'd love some advice on this!

Less than 8 weeks until my fourth half marathon, and I’m going to count the weeks down in this blog. I’d like to say I’m a great runner but I’m not. At 47, I putz around the event courses like a woman in a more, how shall we say, senior division? Average finish times are what my timing chips turn in most often. I don’t really care, because I run for just about every other reason out there except competitive performance. To keep from smoking, for mental health, to study residential landscapes more easily than while driving (I moonlight as a landscape designer), for weight control and to fight osteoporosis, and because sweating feels good – pretty much in that order.

The latest reason is Team in Training. “TNT” is an amazing organization/program now celebrating its twentieth year supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society while helping train amateur athletes to compete in various types of endurance sports events including triathlons, marathons and half-marathons and raise funds for LLS.

As a TNT team member I have access to awesome coaching, various informational clinics (such as nutrition, shoe/equipment, injury prevention, fund-raising, speedwork/form), a web page to collect donations, and team social events to help me reach two goals – athletic and fund-raising. I have competed in two Team in Training events and this fall will run in the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco CA on October 19. I have found that because of TNT’s guidance both goals are amazingly easy.

Each team has an Honored Hero, who is a patient being treated for any type of blood cancer. This Hero is local and we celebrate our successes together periodically throughout the training season. I never fully calculated the power of my ability to do something important for someone else. Through Team in Training I have raised $7600 since I started and if I make the goal for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon, I will have raised (with my blessed donors) over $10,000 in 12 months’ time. That’s a dent! And 75% of whatever I raise goes directly to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. That’s a great ratio.

If you know a woman who could benefit in her body or her soul, or both, please tell her about Team in Training.

By the end of August we’re supposed to be doing 10 miles, according to the training schedule TNT provides. Then the remaining 3 is achieved more gradually, Sept – Oct. As an old lady I worried about stepping it up 4 miles in August, from 6 to 10, and now I have a bit of a knee injury. I fell on my bike during the Acworth Women’s Sprint Triathlon on August 10 and somehow injured the inside of my left knee. So my training has been extremely guarded and I’m not on schedule distance-wise. I will HOPE to do 8 - 10 this weekend. Please send good vibes my way.