Seattle Rock N Roll Half Marathon

I finished. The 12 weeks of training are done, the final goal is accomplished.

Saturday the alarm went off at 3:15 in the morning. After shoving some oatmeal into my stomach when I wasn't hungry, my hubby and I caught the bus downtown, where we caught a shuttle bus (a school bus, I could barely get my knees in the seat it was so small) down to Tukwila. We then had about two hours to wait until the start of the race at 7. Because of the wave start, I wouldn't be starting for another HOUR after that. The weather wasn't too terrible. The sun was barely up, with cloud cover. It was probably in the 50s. There were already people everywhere, though by 7 it definitely was more difficult to walk around. I don't know an exact number, but there were at least 27,000 people running either the half or full marathon.

Almost one hour to the minute after the very first runners started, my corral (moo) was released to start the race. The tracking system they use is nice--even though all the clocks at the mile markers start with the first group, the tracker on your shoe only starts when you actually cross the finish line. We also got 5k, 10k and 9 mile splits. By the way, the guy that won the half marathon ran it in 1:04:55—he could see the finish line by the time I was starting.

The course goes from Tukwila to Qwest Field in Seattle. It was pretty easy to pick out the out-of-towners during the run. They'd start talking about the terrible uphills when I hadn't even really noticed we were going uphill. On the flip side, they thought it was great running weather, I thought it was really muggy. (But at least the sun wasn't out, and it was good running weather overall.)

There were 9 bands along the half marathon course, which was cool. There was only one boy-with-guitar (really? C'mon, we need drums, people), the rest were pretty good, I guess. You don't really hear much as you're going past. There were also probably 9 cheer squads and a ton of water stations. They also had this Cytomax energy drink stuff, which just made the road sticky when you had to run past the tables.

Best part of the race for me was running through the Mount Baker Tunnel on I-90. It was cool since I drive that everyday (seems much shorter in a car...) and also because they had a DJ in there, so the sound was booming everywhere. As a person that cranks the iPod as high as it can possibly go when running somewhere without traffic, it was nice to have it so loud nothing else could be in my head. And how fun for that guy to DJ in a freeway tunnel? He looked like he was having a blast anyway.

For some reason, I couldn't really get my head into the run. The first three miles were spent dodging people on the route (I started too far back in the corrals), and then I think it was just that there were always people everywhere. I always run by myself, and our other races weren't that big--eventually I'd pretty much be running alone. Not this time (but I should have expected this with 27,000 people signed up). Miles 7-9 weren't fun since my head wasn't in it, I couldn't relax into my pace. Then, at mile 10 I hit the wall big time. Ten miles was the most I'd ran in training, so that had something to do with it, but also I think I had burned everything in my body to burn. Other people were hitting the wall, too. Somewhere between miles 10 and 13 we had to run up an onramp. I love uphills because they kick my muscles into gear and my knees feel better. However, one woman (who I really think was loopy) started sprinting up the onramp yelling as loud as she could "it's a flat, it's a flat!" Hope she was OK ...

The worst part of the race (besides knowing how far I was from Qwest Field and thus the finish line, since I always drive through there) was that we ran past Qwest Field, up through Pioneer Square and back around to the stadium. The finish line is in sight, but we're only at mile 11 or something. That was about where I started getting passed by speed walkers. But dammit, I was going to finish jogging, even if it was a very sloooooww jog. My knees hurt, my feet hurt, my toes hurt, my ankles hurt ...

I wonder if it would have been different had I had some goo or a granola bar or something. They were taking photos at the finish line, and I was willing myself not to be crying in the photos (which now makes me laugh, but really ... there wasn't nothing left).

I got my medal, got the finisher photo taken (I REALLY wonder what that is going to look like) and chugged water, finally tried some Cytomax—I was scared to drink it during the race since I had never had it before—and ate a bagel, and felt a little better.

So yay! I did it. My overall pace was about 12:30. I had wanted to run 12-minute miles, and considering how slow I was at the end, I would guess for most of the race I was. Now I've done it once, next time won't be so bad. And there will probably be a next time since I want to qualify for the Disney World Marathon eventually.

I didn't see many costumes in the race, I'm not really sure why. Lots of T-shirts from other places: Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, BC Canada. I guess all 50 states were there as well as 23 countries or something. I also had an old man blow his nose into his hand then fling the contents off to the side. Ew. Really, people. And a guy answered his phone while he was running. That was kind of funny. Running along, chatting on the phone. Lots of people also took photos while they ran, or stopped to take photos.

We did not stay for the after-race concert, but headed downtown for some food, then home, when I could finally take my shoes off and found blisters that were bigger than the toes they were on. I'm on the hunt for new running shoes.

Final time: 2:45:18.

Do I look tired? Because I was. This was around mile 11, taken by my dear hubby, who waiting like two hours for me to finish. I'm in the white hat, black shorts, gray T-shirt.

A blurry photo of the medal we got.

The 10-miler

How come my long runs always end up happening when its pouring outside? Sunday was a 10 mile run, and it went well but it started off drizzling and ended up pouring for most of the time. I came home dripping wet again, and as of this morning my tennis shoes still weren't dry.

I started in Magnuson Park and ran home, only getting lost once in Ravenna Park, which is MUCH larger than the map indicates. The map also indicates that you can turn left onto 15th from the park. I found out, however, that you actually run UNDER 15th. Oh well. Made it home in one piece, and neither my knees nor my feet felt too bad. I think I might actually be ready for this run on Saturday! Really hope it doesn't rain. So tired of the rain.

So this week is protein and carb loading. I don't know if it works or not, but its a good excuse to eat pasta. Race time is 7 a.m. on Saturday, we will be heading to the shuttle busses sometime around 4 in the morning. I'm in one of the last corrals, so I would guess it'll be an hour after the race starts before I hit the starting line, giving me about four hours to kill. Wonder if they put chairs in the corrals while we wait?

Hmm

My body is rebelling from all this running. Or at least, my feet are. I skipped my run today because of pain (and swelling, awesome) in the top of my right foot. I can't win. I iced it at work today--this still hurts from the race on Sunday--and that helped, I think. But its just a running thing, so even though I didn't run, I still did a workout over lunch, using minimal impact machines so I can keep strengthening my muscles up until it won't do any more good without hurting my foot.

I hate being inside when its nice out. And someone today had stepped in a dog deposit (or something) without realizing it because it was rather smelly in there--and it wasn't my shoes, I checked. Yuck. Once the pressure is off, I can just go for a walk instead of a run if its nice and my feet hurt.

I'm excited for the race, but at the moment I don't know if I'm more excited to do it or for it to be over. I know I'm going to have fun while at the race but these last two weeks are killing me. I'm sure its going to be over faster than I'd like.

Talking to some coworkers who ran the race last year, it sounds like I'm going to be in the back with all the crazy people. Sweet. I need to figure out how to run with a camera in my hands to capture what I'm sure is going to be great fodder for my fiction writing. Maybe I can end up in some photos. I'm hoping to wear my Realtor's (he's also a friend) T-shirt as some free advertising. Its an adorable shirt (designed by his wife, a very talented graphic designer ... plug, plug, plug), so if I can end up in photos ... I need a crazy hat or something, I guess.

One long run left on Sunday, I'm going to try and get a five-miler in before that. Our last round of guests for a few months shows up tomorrow night, so it'll have to be during lunch, which is becoming harder for me than running after work. Hopefully the sun will shine, that always helps. I'm tired of this Seattle "Juneuary."

10k--check!

It was a great day for a 10k. The sun was out, but it was only in the high sixties with a breeze, so it wasn't too hot. My husband and I were both doing our first 10k, the Shore Run/Walk that benefits Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research. Not a bad place to spend $35 or whatever it was. AND we got a free shirt (long sleeved, or at least it is on people that don't have monkey arms). If we keep up a racing schedule, I'm starting to wonder where all these T-shirts are going to go ...

I managed to pace myself much better than at the last race, ending up with just under a 12 minute mile, which is right where I am. I finished at the back of the pack, but wasn't last, and wasn't even last in my age group. I'll take it.

The run goes along Lake Washington, and I was a bit worried there would be a lot of hills. There were really only two, and only one was big. I think I have living on Phinney Ridge to thank for those hills not being very difficult for me. I'm starting to really like hills, I tend to pass people :) Its too bad Lake Washington Boulevard has pot holes in it because if I wouldn't have had to pay such close attention to the road, I could have watched more of the view.

Only one long run left, on Sunday, before the half marathon.

The next race approaches

Sunday is the 10k race. 6.2 miles. I am actually looking forward to it because 1. It's a long enough distance that I'm forced to really think about pacing 2. It's along Lake Washington so it'll be pretty 3. It should be nice outside!

I'm supposed to run one more 5 mile before the race, but I don't think I'm going to have time. That might be just fine, however, as my feet are still a bit sore from my last two runs. I ran 5 miles Tuesday night and managed to clock in at an 11:13 pace. It didn't feel like I was running that fast—that's a good thing, right? Plus, I'm just TIRED. I think I slept for almost 10 minutes in yoga today. Well, technically I was supposed to be in shavasana, but I fell asleep.

On the half-marathon note, I downloaded our waivers and corral info from the Web site for both my husband and myself. Since he is (significantly) faster than me, he's in a different corral—27 corrals away! I'm not even going to get to see him start the race. That's a bit intimidating. There are going to be a LOT of people at this race. Oh well. I'll be with the turtles in the back. We win at the end of the story anyway, right?

So this is me

Link

Guess I'll keep up with the resistance band duck walks I do almost every night.

Approaching burnout

Yup. Ready to run this half marathon and be done with the hour plus runs for awhile. Of course, it was humid (for the West coast. Real humidity would melt me at this point.) on my nine-miler today, which didn't help my attitude. I STILL haven't purchased a water belt. With only one long run left before the half marathon, I no longer see the point. Until after I run the half and decide I need to do a full.

Uh huh, one long run left at 10 miles. Next weekend is the 10k race at a measly 6.2 miles (ha). Then the 10 mile run approaches. I've decided after seven miles my body goes into auto mode and its all kind of the same until I see the finish line (or our house, whatever the case may be). Surprisingly on today's run my knee was hurting a little bit in the last quarter of the run, but it feels good now. My last mile was all uphill, which I think helps as it gives my other muscles a break. Getting up Phinney Ridge from Greenlake is not fun. At all. I'm not sure that would ever be easy for anyone. Its hard to get up that hill in a car, much less by leg power.

I am looking forward to the 10k. Its a run along Lake Washington, so it should be really pretty, although I'm assuming its also really hilly. It'll be nice to have one more race before the big event as I failed to pace myself at all during the 5k. Hopefully I can control it this time and get more even splits.

My next run is on Tuesday, and its supposed to be nice and sunny. I'm pretty tired of this rain, so here's hoping ...

We're famous!

OK, not really.

My husband and I tried out the vegan restaurant Plum Bistro in Seattle for my birthday this past spring. While we were there eating, I noticed a photographer taking pictures all over the restaurant. I remarked to him that it looked like he was either media or taking promo shots for the restaurant, and wondered if we'd ever catch a glimpse of ourselves somewhere.

Fast forward a few months. One of the e-mail newsletters I get had a link to an article name dropping a bunch of celebrities and something about Plum Bistro. Since this is a vegan newsletter, I was curious if it was Seattle's Plum Bistro (the newsletter is out of NYC). Reading the article, it was! It's an interview with the chef of Plum Bistro, Makini Howell. Turns out she created the food for a fancy-pants Earth Day party full of celebrities in L.A., and is now going to open a Plum Bistro L.A.

On to why we're not really famous. In the article are teeny-tiny photographs, including one that had to have been taken by the photographer in the restaurant the day we were there. Scroll down, see the photo with all the teeny-tiny people in it? My husband and I are the two blobs sitting in front of the big glass garage door. He's in a white shirt and we both have dark hair. We're famous! Oh, and the article is interesting, too.

By the way, if you've never eaten at Plum Bistro, check it out. Even if you aren't vegan. Try the Mac N Yease. 

Happy National Running Day!

My Runner's World and Lululemon Twitter feeds have informed me of this holiday. And although it is my normal day to run, I will not be running today. The weather is really terrible (and supposed to be much better tomorrow) and there is no food in the house for dinner tonight—so I'm waiting until tomorrow for my second five-mile run of the week. Tonight is grocery shopping instead.

More updates on my last few runs later. It's been a busy couple of weeks and I haven't had time to log on and write after work. I also have four or five articles I've read recently online that are waiting in the wings to be blogged about, including a photo shoot for a local vegan restaurant my husband and I were inadvertently a part of.

Until then, go run!