#hilly course

Roxbury Marathon 12-10-11

Day was just about perfect weatherwise- just under 30 for the start, 40 at the end- love it when its a small temp change. Picked up Kris, and we headed over to Roxbury. Drive was as pretty as last year- The towns around Roxbury there is a lot of old money and horsefarms. The fog was pretty dense driving to it, but cleared up by the time we got to the park. We registered, and then hung out in the car to keep warm until race start. Since there were only about 100 runners, not a huge fanfare- the RD thanked everyone for being there, and then we were off! Marathon #2!

The Out and Back, Miles 1-8ish(07:37, 7:40, 7:42, 7:43, 8:00, 8:28, 8:37, 8:07) This part of the route goes out through town, mostly flatish, then turns left onto a dirt road going out to Judds Bridge, which we crossed, with the turn around point a tenth or so of a mile after the bridge. This part is just all beautiful woods, babbling brooks, and a small creek/river that Judds bridge crosses. The dirt road is more down than up going out, so obviously more up than down going back. I ran along it thinking that it was a lot hillier than last year(haha, it was the same course), and then realized its the epitomy of what we say about marathoning being like childbirth- give it a little bit, and you forget how bad it was. The flipside though is that the roads were not as slanted as I remember for last year, so my ITBs didnt bark at all(last year they did). Uphill approach toward the start/finish line, and let the loops begin!(elapsed time roughly 1:08 at this point). The eventual winner and new course record holder was already going back when I was just after mile 3, now he was speedy! Saw Kris as well for the first time while I was headed back in, she was lookin good!

Miles 9-16- give or take 2 loops(3.52 mile loop)(8:39, 8:01, 8:25, 8:28, 8:52, 8:19, 8:40, (9:09) After passing the finish a quick downhill, a right turn, then a slow climb to the opposite side of the loop, when its a fabulous downhill on a dirt road, with the waterstop at a flat spot on the downhill, a little more down hill, then a mostly flat barely climbing road back through town, then the uphill toward the finishline. End of first loop was roughly 1:38, so hit my target(mentally I had broken up the race and said that as long as did each loop in roughly 30 minutes, id make my sub 4 goal), saw Kris coming in from the out and back just before I finished the first lap, she was still lookin like a marathoner :-) I got passed by the winner just as I was finishing my first loop, so I had figured id seen him one more time before I was done. Wrong! That guy is a serious animal, that must have been his third loop or so when he passed me, as he finished in 2:43:59. Second loop elapsed at roughly 2:09. I realized this really isnt a race you can plan for steady pace, its just too hilly(hence why my mile splits are all over the place). Thankfully no wall, but my left knee did get a littly wonky, but its cause my hamstring and quads just started to feel all tight and out of sorts. I walked through the waterstops at the finish line and on the flipside of the loop, and that helped to ease things.

Miles 17-22- give or take loops 3 & 4(8:31, 8:59, 8:54, 9:39, 8:59, 9:01). Still no wall, so already knew I met one of my goals for the day. The miles came easier this marathon, I think there is something to be said for mentally knowing youve done all these miles before. Passed the time clock at 2:52 and 3:16ish for third and fourth laps, was definitely feeling more tired. While this isnt a big race and theres not tons of crowds like the big city races, the support was still amazing. With so few runners, and so many freakin loops, the marshals at the turns and the waterstops were getting to know the runners, and were able to just give us compliments to make us smile(like about how cute my skirt was), or one guy asking "is this lap 2 or 3 for you? Either way, speedy!" Walk breaks got a little longer here, walked the uphill to the finish on the third(or was it fourth?) lap. Passed a woman on the third lap that I had been leapfrogging the whole race, plus started lapping some of the other runners. Saw Kris on my fourth lap(she was on her 2nd, Kev wasnt with her yet), and at the end of the fourth lap finally caved and stopped for a potty break(which was actually just over the 23 mile mark).

Miles 23-26.2(11:00, 9:30, 10:02, 9:11, 9:41 pace for .36) Last lap!!!! was very tired by this point, but made sure to acknowledge all the volunteers as I went around- the marshal at the road intersection, the ladies at the water stop, the kids across from the Roxbury market who had been out cheering all morning, the cop who'd been out stopping traffic for us all morning. I paased one woman who asked if it was my last, and I told her yes, she asked how tired I was, and I responded- "tired, name of the game is relentless forward motion at this point!" Ran along the flat through town for the last turn, made the turn to the uphill the last time, and (what felt like) crawled up the hill toward the finishline,crossing in what *I* thought was just under 3:50, but turns out just under 3:49(who taught me to read anyway??), for exactly a 23 minute PR over MDI!

Post race- boy, was I glad to see the fire in the pavilion!! grabbed some hot chocolate, some fun size PB cups and snickers, and warmed up some, went to the car and changed- I was shivering cause my clothes were so soaked. Changing under a blanket seems good in theory, but ALOT harder to do than one would think just after a marathon! Then back to the pavilion for some of the big italian sub, before going over and finding Kris's DD and Kris's DSis(her DS had already jumped on course with her by the time I finished). Chatted a few minutes, then went to warm up and call DH.

Final stats: 3:48:44, 27th overall, 6th woman

Things I learned from the marathon (this list is longer than last time, since now I have something to compare it to):

who though it was a good idea to run a hilly marathon on December?? oh, wait. me. D'oh!

The extra weight has had an impact- based on last years HM time for this course I could have run it about 10 min faster, but im almost 10lb heavier than a year ago, and I really really felt it in those later miles

I have REALLY gotta increase my hip/quad/hamstring strength, they were seriously burning way too early. My achilles was very sore afterwards yesterday, but I can attribute most of that to the fact that the knee feeling wonky made me shift my stride, so that strength needs to come so I can protect myself from injuring my achilles again.

The marathon is a really huge challenge for me, both mentally and physically, and I need to not discount it for even a second, which leads to #5:

While I'd like to run a 50K *someday*, this coming april is not the time- im not mentally or physically ready for it. Ive met my challenge at the marathon level, ive had to face my own demons twice now, and I need to give it its due and master it *before* moving on to the next challenge. While ive been running for years, I only started racing in 2010, and I need to remember that I dont have to reach every milestone right away, that its OK to master one thing before moving on to the next. Sometimes enough is enough. And so #4 and #5 lead me to #6:

I made a huge improvement from the first full to the second, and running yesterday made me realize that potentially having been able to BQ is more important to me than longer distances, so I really need to focus on decreasing my weight and increasing my strength, and see where it takes me. 2012 will be the year that improving my marathon time will be my goal, as to whether or not 2012 is the BQ year, or whether it be a little farther out, that ok. But one thing at a time is the way to go.

I dont know how I did it, but no chafe or blisters! Yay!

PS- Saucony Kinvara2's rule! My feet are the only things not sore!

Things I Learned since about 3pm yesterday:

drive home while you still have a runners high, then you dont feel tired

time your getting home to about 45 minutes before your friends arrive to go to dinner before a hockey game, that way no chance to sit and realize youre tired

sweet and sour chicken seems like a good idea, but fried foods are not always a good idea, so tread lightly

excitement at getting tickets that are literally right next to the season tickets you gave up will be replaced when you see how looooonng the flight of stairs really is down to them!

Walking fast is not an option. No way. No how.

Take the stairs sideways the next morning.

Write down EVERYTHING you need when foodshopping, or you will be stupid enough to forget something.

Dont drop your phone in an aisle where you are all alone. Because then you have to pick it up yourself. There is no one to ask to help you.

Continue walking downstairs sideway.

Wonder why it is your ribs and abs are sore? No idea, just is.

Colchester HM, 2/26/11

  This race was relatively close to home, so an easy drive to get there, and easy to find. Race registration was well organized, and best part was that start/finish was at a school, so REAL bathrooms. The weather was chilly but not as windy as predicted, so I got dressed, got my hydration pack and spibelt strapped on(no keys locked in the car this time!), walked back inside to keep warm. Hit the bathrooms, then decided I wanted my ear bola instead of a hat, walked out to get that, walked back inside, decided I wanted my 2 lighter gloves instead of the windproof ones. I think I really need someone to go to races with me, just to keep me from getting all silly like this! Focus for the day was making sure I fueled and hydrated through the race, see how much difference it makes.

The race direction announced it was time to head up, so walked up to the start line, chatted with a few people along the way, including a guy who was almost 70. no big fanfare, just lined up, and we were off!

Miles 1-3(7:58, 7:47, 7:49) There were about 400 people there, but things spread of quickly, not a lot of jostling at the start. Less than a mile from the start, the race director is running back through the line of races, shouting words of encouragement and high fiving everybody. Started out with some nice rolling hills, nothing too difficult, nothing too long- a downhill always seemed to come when you needed it. The only downside was I was running along, and all of a sudden this stick runs past me, which irked me cause she totally had a trendelenberg gait, so she was probably nursing a piriformis injury. Wouldnt have been so bad, but she had a garmin that beeped at every mile, and she felt the need to shout out the elapsed time at every mile, even though no one had asked.

Miles 4-6(7:37, 7:29, 7:22) Hills kept rolling, past lots of farms and woods, beautiful scenery, with the occasional lovely perfume of cow farms. A lot of them were turned out in pastures near the road, so the runners got more than a few MOOO's as they went past. Felt great through here. The stick continued to leapfrog me since she couldnt run a steady pace to save her life, still shouting out elapsed time. I felt like telling her if we wanted to know we'd ask, cause we were all capable of reading our own timing devices. Turned left onto a dirt road, Mile 6 marker, its the race director again!! Still cheerily shouting words of encouragement, high fiving the runners as we went past.

Miles 7-9(8:07, 7:55, 7:50) Just into the start of mile 7, the first monster hill. Chirunning technique worked well here, gradient was tough but not awful. Just past mile 8: there is a WALL of road in front of me. Someone at the start had said it was hilly, and to just not look up. I didnt listen. I should have. The sight of it made we want to cry, it just kept going for-e-ver. I did some Chirunning technique interspersed with walking here, it was just too steep for running to be effective. Hit 8 miles at 1:02, realized at this point I might have a PR in me today.

Miles 10-13.1(7:21, 7:57, 8:14, 8:12, 1:51) What goes up, must come down. Mostly downhill for the next 2 miles(hence the ridiculous speed of these 2 miles), just rolled with the punches here, nibbled some more pretzels, hit the waterstop for some gatorade, passed more cowfarms, more dirt roads, manure and hay stomped into the mud of some of the roads here. Miles 12 and 13 were the sneakiest of the bunch, with that annoying 2% gradient thats just enough to make your legs tired, and never really give you a break. Mile 13- I hear a familiar voice....its the race director again, still smiling, still high fiving everyone!!(obviously he didnt run the race, but made appearances at strategic spots). Gritted my teeth, and slogged up the hill for the last .2 miles(Mr Garmy has full race distance as 13.22), turned the corner into the school, and sprinted. Crossed the first mat, and for the first time in a race, I got announced as I was crossing the finish line!

Final time was 1:43:27(7:54), 121 overall, and 2nd in my division!(and so glad it wasnt next year, if id run against the 30-39 year olds, I would have been 12th!!)

the most important part: post race food. It was awesome, I would do the race again for it. You get in line, theres meat lasagna, theres veggie lasagna, theres chili(i politely declined this after my experience at the airline trail HM), and pepperoni pizza!! walk over to the drink table, and diet coke! Yum! I was actually some of the best lasagna ive had. While eating, the almost 70 year old I was talking to grabbed a chair across from me, and we chatted about races, he told me the Vermont City Marathon and the Sugarloaf Marathon are both amazing(both were actually already on my bucket list), we talked about the fact that we both prefer a cheap race with good food and no tshirt(like today, $15 entry fee), over the really pricey ones, where it just doenst seem like you get as much for your money. His BIL was also there, turns out his BIL not only lives in my town, but literally lives like .5 miles away- small world.

Roxbury Marathon, 12/8/12

Day dawned nice and rainy- forecast said it should be stopping, but wasnt sure how much I trusted that, so packed lots of different articles of clothing and accessories, so I could choose, plus a change of clothes. Headed out with a little more than an hour headstart, and made good time getting to Southbury, just south of Roxbury. Since I had time, I stopped and took advantage of Stop and Shop- got a birthday card for my brother since his bday is the 9th, and used real flushing toilets- the marathon starts and ends at a park with portapotties and an outdoor pavilion, so figured why not! Then headed up to the park, nabbed a spot on the road right at the start/finish, knowing it would help if I needed something out of the car later, I get there a little less than an hour before start- grabbed my bib, hit the portalets, then went back to the car and read. Hit the portalets again right before start, so I could test the weather, and chatted with a few people- one was a 50stater, and she said theres a subset of 50 states- to run all 50 states in sub 4hr marathons- ambitious goal! The rain was wierd- not that rain that soaks you, but that annoying rain that just kind of hangs in the air and waits for you to run into it. Very casual line up for the race- only about 100 runners, a quick thanks from the RD, instructions on he course(theres plenty of marshals and markers, but they still do it anyway), and then we're off!

Miles 1-5(7:40, 7:37, 7:51, 7:43, 7:53) The race starts with an out back, going the opposite direction of the way we would eventually loop(trust me, the hill is more fun down than up!). I get out and get a comfortable pace- its warm with the rain, and its nice not to start the race with numb feet like last year. We go out through "town" then head onto a dirt road. I chat with a woman about my age, asked her what her garmin showed for pace cause mine said very fast for what it felt like, hers was more like how I felt we were going. We were talking about races we had done, where we were from- another very tall guy comes up behind us and joins the conversation- ha! Turns out Jim is from my town, and hes the guy I ran into a lot last year while training for MDI- he was training for a 50 mile fundraiser run at that same point, this was his first time doing Roxbury. I fuel for the first time, and remember to move my electrolyte caplets, I tuck them between my pants and the shorts of my skirt so I dont lose them like at Hartford. We head out onto Judds Bridge Road, which goes past babbling brooks, through woods(its a dirt road), toward Judds Bridge....with some ups and downs, but mostly downs, beautiful beautiful beautiful out here. We hit the first water stop, and one of the volunteers says "congrats! First 2 women right here!" WHAT??? I joke "dont tell me stuff like that, its scary!" and they all laugh. We hit the turn around just past Judds Bridge at 4.25, and the 3 of us joke "what goes down must go up." We chat about the impact of hills on the speed of a course, and I mention a certain speedy friend of mine who just BQ'd who attributed her improvement of controlling cramping through changing stride pattern, and I said maybe all the hills work to our advantage, cause it naturally forces us to make a change in stride and would keep us from cramping.

Miles 6-10(8:12, 8:27, 8:06, 8:11, 7:50)The going back up was not as tough as last year, I remember having to talk a tiny bit- guess im a little better trained this year! The volunteers at the waterstop see us, and remind the other girl and I we are still first and second woman- how wild! I enjoy that thought, its fun to be a pack leader sometimes(well, backup pack leader in this case). Up Judds Bridge Road, and now onto Rt 67 the same direction we will be going on for the loop- its funny, I recognize a lot of the volunteers from last year, in the same spots too. We go through the 1 intersection that has a cop directing traffic, he jokingly says to me "just that girl in orange, thats all you have to catch!" I respond "dont worry, ive got 20 miles to catch her!" I end up taking off my jacket by this point- id started the race with it cause of the rain, but I was too warm, but id worn a SS and arm wamers underneath. Back onto Apple Lane toward the start/finish line, up the hill for the first of six times today. As we pass the start line I toss my jacket on the hood of my car- phew, glad to be rid of it! Let the first of five loops begin!

Miles 10-15(8:03, 7:54, 9:14, 7:32, 7:58) The loop of this course is best described as a box- the side of the box has the start/finish line about 2/3 of the way up, uphill leading to the line, a quick downhill after. Then the top of the box is a gradual uphill with a couple flattish spots, the volunteers at the corners and the road crossing of this side are all from the New Milford track team- apparently theyre an amazingly fast bunch, and very enthusiastic, cheering all the runners on. You then turn onto a dirt road for the side of the box opposite the finish, this whole dirtroad is downhill, with a waterstop in the middle, so the rest of the race theres stops just under every 2 miles, as the loop is 3.5 miles long. The dirt road ends at the corner of the box, then the bottom part of the box is back along Rt 67(a very gradual uphill) through "town," past the cop directing traffic, and onto Apple Lane, the left side of the box, and up the hill to the finish. My belly started grumbling around mile 8, took an immodium around 10, but knew I was going to need to stop at the end of the first loop, just after mile 12. Somewhere around 10, on the downhill portion another woman catches up- we chat a bit, turns out we ran hartford in pretty much the same time, her a minute quicker than me. I do my best to keep her in my sights, but she and the girl in orange are both moving a tiny bit quicker than me. End the first lap, hit the portalets- much quicker than last year, 1:40, woohoo! Decide since ive got 14 miles, I will see if I can push the pace a little, and try to get the 2 ladies back in my sights again. Made a mental note to check my time at 13.1, completely forgot by then of course.

Miles 16-20(8:04, 7:58, 8:18, 8:15, 9:05) Finish the second loop at 15.5ish, Starting to feel tired at this point. On the second loop id remembered about the electrolyte caplets, went looking for them. Well, they arent in my pants. ARGH!! AGAIN!! im destined not to use these in races I think! I assumed they had fallen out when I stopped at the portalet, and I feel around my pants for the lump that would have been them in the baggie, but to no avail. Lots of enthusiastic volunteers at the finish line. Finally the gatorade has come out- wasnt there on the first or second loops, but it shows up during the third one! The third loop I think was the hardest of the loops for me- im starting to get tired, and, as much as anything, the mental game is beginning, with me worrying about if im going to start having trouble fueling. Id eaten a half a roll right before race start, I had cut my clif bar in bigger pieces, and I had brought along more candycorn, hoping that I could get calories in early. Did that contribute to the need to stop at mile 12? did it have anything to do with the 18 points in donuts I ate on friday? I dont know, but my body needs to learn to fuel! The dirt road waterstop had beer on the thirdloop- I was very very tempted, but with my slightly unhappy belly, it didnt seem like a good idea, so I passed on it. Went past the volunteer on rt 67, he said "youre doing great, youre second woman right now!" I said "how? I was third before my potty stop, and I havent passed either!" he said "not sure, but I tihnk one dropped out." I figured he just hadnt realized one of them was on the lead lap. Past the finish line again for the end of lap 3, and onto lap 4. I was taking at least quick walks at the 2 water stops as this point, it helped refresh my legs a little.

Miles 21-26.2(8:15, 8:26, 8:46, 8:34, 8:39, 8:02, .39 at 8:15 pace) YAY! I was still eating food at mile 20, and it wasnt horrible to chew!Onto the fourth lap, this one felt easier, I think it was knowing that id done more than half the laps, and I was in the home stretch as far as I felt. Came down the hill, the guys were there still taking pictures(on the roxbury fb page, they really did a fantastic job), I joked "are you this cant be my last lap? Im sooooo tired!," but I said it with a big grin, because as much as I was tired, I still felt great. Since id seen the time clock each time I lapped the finish line, I knew I was holding a stronger pace than last year, so there was no doubt this was going to be a course PR for me. Most of my quick math was estimating id finish somewhere in the vicinity of 3:37ish, and I was ok with that- the course was so tough, and I already had my BQ, and I was way too late for me to push the pace and try for my BQ+5, so that will wait till Providence, but I digress.....So passed the same volunteer that told me I was second, he told me this time I definitely was, and I said "who am I chasing? The orange shirt or the blue shirt? They were both in front of me," and he said the girl in the orange shirt(that id initially started the race with) was the one who had dropped out, that I was chasing the one in blue. This put a little pep in my step- 2nd overall female?? could I hold on?? Around onto Apple lane, and up the hill- I havent had to walk up the hill this year!!!! I had to walk it starting at the third lap last year! The ladies at the top of the hill hand me gatorade, one asks, are you the lead woman? And I said "no, but from what I hear im the second woman, hopefully I still am next time around!" and on my way for my final lap. THIS lap was awesome! I thank all the volunteers as I went around, and I started doing the math when I hit the dirt road, and I realized how close I was going to be to a BQ. I pushed as hard as I could, figuring no point in not giving it my all at this point. The volunteer of rt 67 was cheering, saying "youve still got second!" which made me so very happy! I looked, give or take 25.5 at this point, with 14 min to squeak in a BQ. Kept pushing as hard as I could, but uphill....UGH, its tough that late! Past the intersection with the cop for the last time, all the while constant checking my watch to see if it would happen, knowing it was going to be close, and how much "extra" mileage there was going to be. Onto Apple Lane, and on I go, pushing as hard as I can, up the hill, everyone is cheering at the top! I see the clock- oh no! It already says 3:35:xx! I still go through like a freight train, im not giving a single stinkin second I dont have to! YAY!! im the second woman!! THAT is the coolest feeling! I tell ya, if I ever win, id be screaming it from the rooftops!! I get handed a plaque, and grab a mylar shield thingy, and wander stupidly into the parking lot, taking it all in. congrats from other runners that have finished, and I see Jim, he gives me a congrats.

We chat more and walk to the pavilion- I grab some water, and while we're chatting, I kinda pace around the pavilion and the tables, and stand intermittently by the fire thats been lit(theres a chimney/grill thing in the pavilion), trying to keep warm- im shivering just like Hartford, and I honestly think its my body's reaction to the sheer effort I just put it through, teeth chattering while I try to eat an everything bagel and some soup(i didnt get any on myself, thats a miracle!). After chatting for a bit with a variety of runners(thats the fun part of the race, its so small, that everyones friendly and is up for a chat), I head out. Get driving a little bit, but decide to stop in the Dunkin Donuts I Southbury- my legs are getting pinchy and im not warming up, so figure ill change and get myself a coffe, plus use a free donut coupon. Head into the bathroom to change, am pulling off the wet clothes, pull off the capris, and all of a sudden, im reminded of a silly toy I got DH for christmas a few years ago, a poopin penguin(you wind it up, it walking, and little candies are left in a trail behind it), except my trail is made of....electrolyte caplets!!!! they must have fallen farther down when id stopped to potty, and obviously it was a spot I wasnt grabbing while running during a race to see if theyd fallen yet- best part was they were still snug as a bug in a rug in their little baggie, LOL. Got myself a coffee, and decided to treat myself to a jelly donut. Get into the car, figure ill take a couple caplets, have the donut, then drive. Bite into the donut- blech! Nowhere near as good as I remember. So like some crazed sort of carnivore, I rip the donut in half, lick the jelly out, and toss the rest of the donut. Legs are still pinchy, so I drive across the street to the tj maxx plaza, take a couple laps through tj maxx-no good shoes :-( -and then finally make my way home.

This race is a definitely do again for me- I just love everything about it, its worth every agonizing exhausting step. I cant believe how great I feel today, although my quads are getting more sore as the day goes on. I think being more consicous about getting enough electrolytes before, during, and after, eating like a horse this entire week(im at least 44 points in the red this week, my tracking got a "little" lax from wed on), and maybe just being so mentally ready to run this race.