Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

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Half-Mary
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Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby Half-Mary » Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:18 pm

Back in July, I signed up for the Goodlife Fitness Victoria Half-Marathon in order to get the early bird pricing, and to use the motivation of registration to keep me running and training. I didn't join a clinic, but some friends and I decided as a group to train together. We did some of our runs together, and some of them on our own. I trained with my friend Sarah on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and then ran with the group on Saturday mornings. We followed a schedule from a previous clinic and got to work. We motivated each other, and pushed each other, and let each other slack, and then pushed each other again - just doing whatever we needed to keep going and to keep training. Most of the time, we made sure we were still having fun while running.

For the first time ever, I really understood taper-madness. I got cranky and antsy while tapering and really wanted to go out and run and expend big amounts of energy. I've never experienced that before. Race day finally came though, and I was excited to get to the start line and start running. I didn't really have any goals as I didn't train with a specific goal time in mind. When people asked my intentions, I would answer that 2:07 would be nice. In my mind, I was thinking that 2:05 would be awesome. My half-marathon PB (2:09:03) was earned last time I ran that distance and that was in May 2010 in the Vancouver BMO half.

On race morning, my friends and I met up in a small meeting room in the Grand Pacific Hotel that my local running store reserved for people to gather in. There was a safe place to store our things, and hot coffee, and bathrooms that weren't porta-potties. We got ready for the race and headed over to the start line (a 30 second walk!). It was nice and relaxing, and much better than dealing with the crowds before the race.

The race started, and my friend Sarah and I were running together. The rest of our group run at a different pace, so they seeded themselves behind us. Sarah and I didn't quite get far enough up, but we made due. We dodged and passed a lot of people in the first few km, but didn't feel like we were being held back by the crowds. We had our watches set for 19:1s, but were going to try to go by water stations and go by feel, if we could. I wasn't carrying water with me, but Sarah was. I took my first gel around the 9km mark. According to the race results, we crossed the 10k mat at 1:01:33, gun time, or 1:00:58 according to my watch. At this point, I was feeling REALLY good and decided to pick up the pace. I told Sarah I was going to do that, and she said she was going to try to keep up, but to have a great race if not. I've always been a bit faster than her, so there was no expectation that we would finish the race together.

I took of, continuing to feel great. I took another gel a bit sooner than I wanted, but I wanted to take it before the water station at the turn around. I took my own gel, and then grabbed one that they were handing out to take later. My hands were getting really cold at this time, although the rest of me was happily warm, if not a bit hot, and I had trouble tucking the gel into the elastic section of my race number belt. I finally got it in there, although I had to drop back to a walking pace for a few seconds to get it tucked in there. Just after the turn around was the beer station that a family puts on every year. I had my little sip of Phillip's Blue Buck Ale and kept going. Still feeling really good, I picked up the pace a bit more.

I took my last gel at the beginning of the 17th km. Opening it was quite the challenge because I couldn't feel my fingers, but once I got it open, I sucked it back, had some water and kept going. I think I walked for about 20 seconds. I continued on my way, feeling great, and not needing my walk breaks, despite my watch beeping at me every 19 minutes. Still feeling awesome and full of energy (caffeinated gels rock!) I really picked up the pace. I questioned whether I was running at a pace that I would be able to maintain, but I felt confident that I had the energy to keep me going to the end. I kept running and smiling and feeling good about my race. I listened to the people around me discussing aches and pains, and turkey and potatoes. I passed the old folks home on Dallas Rd and got a few high fives. I ran by a guy playing an out of tune death march on the bagpipes. Great intentions, but horrible choice of music! Still... it was a bit better than the house we ran past in both directions that was playing Chariots of Fire. Everybody wanted to run in slow motion when they went by that house. :lol:

I kept up my pace as I approached the last couple of kms. I knew at that point that I was going to have a significant PB, but that I wasn't going to make sub-2, but that it would be in my reach sometime soon. Km 19 felt really good, despite the hill at that point. I kept a really good pace, and was still feeling good! I ran strong toward the finish line, and picked it up for the last few hundred metres. I crossed the finished line feeling awesome and happy! For the first time ever, I finished a long race with sore-tired muscles, but with no specific injuries or sore spots. My legs hurt symmetrically. I got a hug from Rob Reid, the owner of Frontrunners (my running store), but missed shaking Kathrine Switzer's hand as she was busy talking to somebody else. I walked forward with the crowd and got my medal and found some friends and was chatting with them when I noticed SuperBob going by with his Running Mania t-shirt on. I chatted with him for a bit and then saw my friend Sarah going by. We got some food, and headed down the road to cheer on the rest of our friends. We finally ended up back at the hotel, hanging out on the balcony watching the rest of the finishers go by, and also watching the full marathoners start to come in.

Overall, I had an awesome race, and felt everything come together while I was out there running. I don't think I could have had a better day! :D

Splits:
KM 1: 6:26
KM 2: 6:17
KM 3: 6:04
KM 4: 5:56
KM 5: 6:15
KM 6: 6:24
KM 7: 5:54
KM 8: 5:52
KM 9: 6:17 (gel)
KM 10: 5:29
KM 11: 5:28
KM 12: 5:37
KM 13: 6:04 (gel)
KM 14: 5:33
KM 15: 5:27
KM 16: 5:32
KM 17: 5:41 (gel)
KM 18: 5:15
KM 19: 5:02
KM 20: 5:00
KM 21: 5:03
Last 1.33km: 1:29 (4:34 per km)

Next up is the Las Vegas 1/2 marathon in December, but I'm not sure yet if I want a race goal, or if I just want to concentrate on having fun.

Andrea took a couple of photos of me around the 17km mark, but I'll let her add those to this thread if she wants to. :) I'm tagged in one of them on Facebook, and two are posted in the NET in the NRR section.

Edited to add that my final time was 2:02:15! :dance:
Last edited by Half-Mary on Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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mas_runner
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby mas_runner » Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:24 pm

Wow, looking at those split times, you really smoked the second half of that race. I reckon you are a dead cert to go sub 2, maybe even sub 1:55 or lower with those kinds of splits on tired legs.

Great race, what was your final time?
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby Habs4ever » Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:25 pm

Great race, Mary. Look at those last few splits, those are amazing. :shock:
Please don't make me add up the time, OK? :lol:
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby Half-Mary » Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:26 pm

mas_runner wrote:Wow, looking at those split times, you really smoked the second half of that race. I reckon you are a dead cert to go sub 2, maybe even sub 1:55 or lower with those kinds of splits on tired legs.

Great race, what was your final time?


Ooops! I finished with a chip time of 2:02:15! :dance:

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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby HCcD » Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:30 pm

Congratulations on a great race, and amazing negative split, ta boot ... :P
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby Hammie » Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:36 pm

Great race - sounds like you had a very solid run! Congrats on a well-earned PB.
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby Spirit Unleashed » Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:39 pm

love the title of your report. and you did look really happy in the pictures. congrats
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby Jump145 » Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:00 pm

You really did look happy in the pics!

Great race!
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby deerdree » Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:40 pm

fantastic splits!! congrats on the PB! :clap:

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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby CinC » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:21 pm

nice PB and great race!
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby marymac442 » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:37 pm

Awesome job Mary - maybe see you in Vegas ... if I can keep up.

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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby Stampie » Mon Oct 10, 2011 11:22 pm

Well done Mary, great race and well executed! Nice negative split also. :)
PB’s (official race results)
5K – 26:20; 8K – 41:28; 10K – 52:13; 15K - 1:22:43; 21.1K – 1:54:16; 30K – 2:51:34; 42.2K – 4:24:14

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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby Robinandamelia » Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:16 am

Great result congratulations!

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Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby Jwolf » Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:22 am

That's a great time- congrats!
With splits like that at the and you are definitely holding a lot in the tank- I see faster times in your future. :) (your last 3k were faster than mine Sunday!)
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby PinkLady » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:05 am

Wow, awesome negative split! You're primed to smoke sub 2 next time. Congrats!
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby purdy65 » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:20 am

Nice job Mary!

Congratulations! I agree with Pinky. Sub 2 in in your future!
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby scrumhalfgirl » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:49 am

bravo - great racing!!!!
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby SuperboB » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:53 am

Great seeing you on race day! Congrats on demolishing that PB!
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby eme » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:54 am

Congrats on the PB and a solid run race!

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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby IronGoddess » Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:08 am

You ran a perfect race, good for you, I am so jealous. Your pacing was amazing and your last 4 kms were smoking fast, WTG. You r a rock star. See you in Vegas. When do you leave and where r u staying, btw.
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby RobW » Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:24 am

Congrats on a great race! Those splits pretty much tells the story. A sub 2 is well within reach for you.

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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby Darth Tater » Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:40 am

Congrats on your new PB! Great race - way to go!
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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby abhainn » Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:01 pm

You did a fantastic job! Congrats on an amazing race :D

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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby Half-Mary » Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:44 am

You caught me right after the water station where they gave me a full cup. You can see water spilled on my shirt. :roll: :lol:

Great photos! Better than the few I saw on Brightroom earlier today. For awhile, I was able to see some of my photos, but I can't get back to them again, so I'll have to wait. They did get one photo of me with my feet off the ground that isn't too bad.

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Re: Half-Mary's half-mary in Victoria

Postby Stampie » Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:04 am

Those are great photos. At what stage in the race where they taken Mary?
PB’s (official race results)
5K – 26:20; 8K – 41:28; 10K – 52:13; 15K - 1:22:43; 21.1K – 1:54:16; 30K – 2:51:34; 42.2K – 4:24:14

What is up for 2018
Feb 11th - First Half Vancouver
TBA
Planning & in my sights
Jun 9th - Puddle Jumper Classic

Run the mile you're in. Not the one behind you, and not the one in front of you - the one you are running now :) - purdy65


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