RnR VA Beach = a PW

The night before the half Megan, Becky and myself were being good little runners and headed to bed early.  No late nights enjoying the nightlife of VA Beach,  no stopping at the outdoor concert.  We were in bed at a normal time.  Unfortunately we were not at a hotel with a bunch of good little runners.  We were in a hotel that I think was home to a preschool.  There was lots of playing up and down outside the doors of our room.  No kid free hotel for us.  At 11:00pm I wanted to turn on my teacher and ask some parents if they could either put their kids to bed or let them run around at the beach...we have a race to run early in the morning people!

Megan and Becky ended up falling asleep pretty quickly.  I did not.  I never sleep well when I travel.  I ended up tossing and turning for most of the night.  At 2:30am I heard a visitor attempting to open our door with his card key.  Now the only people trying to open the wrong door at 2:30am are usually drunk.  Needless to say we had what I would assume was a very drunk person who I think should have been two doors down attempting to open our door unsuccessfully.  He didn't like the fact that his card key would not work and so started knocking, pounding, and throwing things and bodies at the door.  (well it may not have been bodies..but rather his body)  I ended up calling the front desk and they took care of our confused neighbor. Becky was not happy with our new friend at all and had a hard time falling back asleep.

The resin evidence left in front of our door in the morning...

 

The poor chair that may or may not have been thrown at our door and may or may not have had a small piece missing after the night before.

 

 

You can not even tell that Megan and Becky had their sleep interrupted before the 5am alarm went off.  We headed out of our door and caught the shuttle which was located directly in front of our hotel.  Sweet!  We were not really sure how the shuttle would work.  So we left extra time just in case we had to make a lot of stops before they dropped us off.  It took us directly to the start line without any other stops along the way. 

 

 

Megan and I got to be in our first Half Fanatic photo!  So great to meet other Half Fanatics.

 

When we headed out the door the humidity at 5:30 am was horrible.  Unfortunately it did not improve as the day went on.  When you feel like you have to cut the air with a knife just to breathe you know it is not going to be a fun run.  When we started running I thought I may die.  The heat and humidity was horrible!  I knew it was going to be a rough run.  I felt tired (probably from my neighbor wanting to meet us at 2:30am).  It was not going to be my greatest run.  I did stay ahead of my goal pacer until mile 6 or 7.  So that was making me feel good.  I also got to see my friend Kristi and my favorite nieces.  They made signs for me and gave me a hug to help my keep going.  It was great seeing them at mile 6. 

 

At a water stop (I'm going to guess 7 or 8) I ended up running into Sarah who I ended up running near when running the Leesburg 20K.  Luckily I wore the same pink tank so I guess I was pretty easy to spot. :)  It was great seeing a familiar face at a water stop.  Sarah unfortunately had some bad blisters forming on her feet so she had more than just the heat to deal with. 

 

I ended up walking from mile 7or 8.  It was just too miserable to run.  Every medic station had multiple people needing help.  I saw a bunch of people getting medical attention along the side of the road.  The heat was nothing you wanted to mess with.  I did go through every hose that the course offered to attempt to cool down.  I was also thinking of heading to someones front yard to use their slip n' slide, but I decided against that one.   Although I think the guys there would have let me. 

 

I ended up finishing with a new PW.  Yep my personal worst time is officially RnR Va Beach! 

Happy finishers!

Becky was taking care of us after she finished her 5K.

As always it is tradition to head out for some breakfast food.  This place had a great buffet with some yummy french toast.  I think french toast has some special recovery powers!

 

It was a great weekend for a run even though I ended up with a PW. 

 

 

Rock n Roll Virginia Beach expos, beach and food oh my!

Headed down to VA Beach to run the Rock N Roll Half Marathon with Megan and Becky.  We got up early to avoid traffic and ended up rolling into the expo around 10:30 with little traffic worries.  Score! As always I look forward to the expo.  I am not sure why I love expos because I normally don't even buy anything.  I just love looking at all of the vendors and their goodies. 

This may turn out to be a new favorite shirt.  Love the green!

Who doesn't love Elvis??

 

We wondered around and ran into Charlie the Tuna

As you can tell Megan was ready to eat Charlie right there at the Expo!  Thankfully Charlie swam away before Megan could find her knife and fork in her swag bag. :) 

 

Also saw the Orange team from the Biggest Loser from a few seasons ago.  Fun stuff!  We ended up walking off the beach with him after the race.  Seemed really nice.  We had a brief conversation.  He has completed twenty two half marathons since the Biggest Loser and is ready to attempt a full marathon.  Good Luck to him!

 

I did end up buying some new compression sleeves.  I now am the owner of new black compression sleeves to complement my pink ones that I left at home. I think I am in love with compression after races.  My legs legs feel so much better after a long run.

 

After the expo we headed for some lunch and checked into the hotel.  Then of course we were beach bound!  We ended up in the room beside our friend Gary from run club.  Always nice to see friends on a destination race weekend.  We all enjoyed some sun and sand.  Gary has developed some weird radar for us teachers.  Every time we turned around there he was.  You would think with so many people around we wouldn't keep running into each other.  I am convinced he has a tracking device on one of us :) I am not normally a huge beach fan, but it was a nice day to lay out and swim in the ocean.   I was a bit paranoid that I was going to burn and then have to run 13.1 miles burnt..but turned out I really didn't have much to worry about on that front.  I must have sprayed the SPF on without missing a bunch of spots which is good. 

 

After the beach we headed back to the hotel and got ready for dinner.  Gary had found a pizza/pasta place and a bunch of runners were going to meet up there for some food.  I had some very yummy manicotti.  I now think I am going to give up eating pasta the night before a race.  Seems like every time I eat pasta before a race I don't feel the best race morning. 

 

So far a great night before a race.  Next up the actual race day recap...

 

 

Leesburg 20K and a PR

Last weekend I ran the Leesburg 20k with Megan.  This was my first 20K so guarantee PR!  Hey you have to take your PRs anyway you can get them! :)  It turned out that it was the perfect day to run 12.5 miles too.  We were running a few miles on the road and for most of the run we were on a paved trail.  Trees all around to further protect us from the summer heat (but really for an August morning, no real heat or humidity.)  It was a really nice place to run. 

Before the run started I ended up in the longest port-a-potty line known to man!  I knew if I didn't wait I would regret it later.  I didn't know if there were port-a-potties on the run and how many.  Since it was a smaller race I assumed that not many would be found.  Turned out that it was a smart decision. Score for me!  While in line the race started and half the people in line left..well that moved me up in line a bunch.  I figured my time doesn't start until I cross the start line so I should be fine.  Turned out I didn't have to weave in and out of many people at the start seeing as I was only about 3-5 runners starting :) 

We ran a few miles and then we split off from the 5K runners and the 20K runners headed for the trail.  I wasn't sure if I was the last 20K'er since I started late.  I was trying to figure it out while I was running, but just gave up.  When the split came I realized I was not last.  So that made me feel good.  I know I am a back of the pack runner, but I didn't really want to be the very last runner. 

As I was running I ended up passing a husband and wife running.  I am going to guess that the husband was running with his wife and letting her call the pace.  I love seeing that!  We chatted a bit and I passed them.  Turned out that would not be the last time I would see them. 

The middle of the run had some incline but nothing too bad.  It was an out and back so when we came up, you knew you would see the downside of the hill on the return.  Just how I like it.  As I was running around mile 9 I hear behind me "We're Baaa--ck!"  Yep it was my husband and wife duo.  We laughed about meeting up again.  I decided I wasn't going to let them pass me..but it is later in the race, I am not really feeling speedy.  I go a bit faster knowing that I can't maintain the pace.  Soon they pass me.  I yell good luck and tell the wife to aim to pass the girls in front of us.  They were off.  I ended up seeing them after I crossed the finish line.  The wife got her second wind when they passed me. 

The last mile was a tough one.  I was very glad that I signed up for the race.  Great training run for VA Beach Half next weekend. 

 

I was really happy to see the finish line!  As I was getting ready to cross the finish line, I was handed the American Flag to run across the finish.  I wasn't sure if I could hold the flag and run because I was tired.  Turned out that I could hold a flag and cross the line without falling over.

After the run Megan and I headed off to a small restaurant to enjoy some post race french toast and bacon.  Yummy.  It was a great day for a 20K!

Running? yes please!

So today I ran the Leesburg 20K with my running sister Megan.(I know shocker!)  I will give you more info later this week. :)

I wanted to check in since I feel like it has been forever since I have posted anything on my blog.  I'm blaming that on work and not a lot of running last week.  I was thinking this morning before my 20K race about why I didn't really put in the miles last week and instantly I remember that I am once again a working girl...summer why did you have to leave me??  I guess we all have to go back sometime..I know I shouldn't complain not many professions give you 8 weeks off in the summer.  It still doesn't mean that I want my summer to end :( 

It looks like two more weeks until RnR Va Beach.  I have heard nothing but good things about this race so I am really excited!  I'm glad I did the 12.5 miles today because as you know I rarely end up saying that I was really happy with my training headed into a half marathon race. :)  So I'm really happy that I have 12.5 miles in before race day. 

My goal is to run some short runs this week and hit a ten miler this weekend.  Other than that I must get ready for some Steeler football! 

Go Steelers!

week before I start back to work gives me CFS and republican rallies

I have been really really tired this week.  On Wednesday my summer vacation comes to an end.  Yep..back to work time.  Ah...school I have not really missed you.  So maybe my body recognizes that soon we will be back on a schedule and is revolting.  I have been napping like it is my job.  I did feel like I have been fighting off something starting with a sore throat.  Every once in awhile I come down with my self diagnosed CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome).  Yes, sometimes I play a doctor on TV. :) 

This morning I was sort of excited to run a long run.  The morning was in the low 70's and some clouds were in the sky.  The perfect day for a run...except if you are suffering from CFS.  I made it four miles and then called it quits.  Every time I moved forward it was taking a lot out of me.  Somedays you just don't have it in you.  I will attempt another long run tomorrow.  Fingers crossed that the CFS goes away. 

Yesterday I did not get my nap in.  Instead I headed to Mitt Romney's rally.  I'm not normally very political, but I do enjoy a good rally during a presidential election year.  Last election I got to see Hillary, McCain, and Obama.  Yeah I have no allegiance during a presidential election year.  I love hearing everyone in line talking.  It always cracks me up.  This time I learned that Republicans know how to stand in line and Democrats no nothing about lines because they are crazy.  (I'm not sure if the guy in front of me is an expert in lines, but he sounded very knowledgeable on the topic).  Now the rally was not my favorite.  It was in an area that was way too small.  Took forever to move up in line b/c 3 people were taking our tickets (when you have  a few thousand people that takes awhile to move people through the ticket line)  I didn't get to see Romney or Paul Ryan.  The loudspeaker system was not the best so I really couldn't hear that well either.  So I didn't stay for the entire speech.  I also didn't want to get caught in the massive traffic jam that was sure to follow.

lots of people in a small space

Obama supports were there too

need a button?

lines everywhere...thankfully the Republicans know how to stand in lines.

The Olympics -not good for working out

So I am going to blame the Olympics for my laziness.  I have watched a lot of TV lately.  I find that I just turn the Olympics on and watch whatever sport is on.  Horse Jumping (I know it is not called that, but that is what was on my TV), volleyball, gymnastics, synchronized diving (who knew?), track and field (yes please)..you name it and I have watched it (or at least listened to it as I did other things)  Tomorrow I am not allowed to turn the TV on until I run 10 miles.  It rained tonight and so I am hoping for great temps for a run tomorrow! :) 

Night all..I have a run to get to tomorrow morning.

Wordless Wednesday

For Wordless Wednesday I leave you with some running thoughts to inspire you when you just want to take a nap:

Now get out there and run! :)