Category Archives: Half Marathon

Friday Expo Day!

Posted by hellyontherun in Half Marathon, Race, Running and tagged with , , , ,

It’s Friiiiiday!!!!

I’ve been looking forward to this day all week–first because Fridays are an early get-off-of-work day for my husband and second, it’s EXPO day!!

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We’ll be making the trek downtown as soon as my husband steps through the door. I already have diaper bags packed and ready to go! Granted, I still have about 5 hours before he comes home but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared : )

When we signed up for this race months ago, I wrote 2:30 as my expected finish time since I had no idea how prepared I’d feel 5 1/2 months postpartum. I’m hoping I’m able to change my corral so that I can move up to the 2:00 hour mark. I can’t believe I’m saying that!

So the goal is to get there early, find a nice volunteer to change my corral, pick up my swag, take pictures, and get pumped for Sunday!!

–What are you looking forward to this weekend? Do you have a race going on? A long run?
—If you’re running tomorrow, consider dedicating your miles to Meg. My 1/2 marathon will be for her.

Pre Race Jitters

Posted by hellyontherun in Half Marathon, Race, Running, Uncategorized and tagged with , , , , , , , ,

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The P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll 1/2 marathon has been my Eleanor (catch that Gone in Sixty Seconds reference?)

I’ve ran it twice, the first being my first 1/2 ever and maybe because it wasn’t my best showing, I had forgotten my time and had to look it up! 2:42 at a 12:25/mile pace.

I registered again a few years later having done some more prep work but then discovered I was pregnant a couple of months before the race. I finished at 3:20 with a 15:17/mile pace (I was around 14 weeks).

I’m not ashamed of either time and don’t make any excuses for them; my times are what they are.

All I know is that I finally feel truly prepared for this 1/2. I’ve actually trained and have altered my diet and am mentally ready.

I have a pretty lofty goal this time around.

Okay, here it is.

I want to finish under 2 hours.

I totally get that this is considerably faster than my previous two halves. I’ve done a little math on what I’d have to pace to get that time and also considered the other possible times I might get. This is the range I’d like to be in with of course 2 hours being my main goal:

Time Pace
 1:55 8:46/mile
 2:00 9:09/mile
 2:05 9:32/mile
 2:10 9:55/mile
 2:15 10:18/mile

It’s so crazy how big of a pace difference it is from 2:05 to 2:00. Like I totally feel I could do a 9:32/mile pace but 9:09 seems so daunting! I think back to my 15K a month ago; I ran those 9.3 miles in a 9:11/mile pace so I know I’ve come close but still….

I think with this particular race, what always has me a little nervous is this

Screenshot_2014-01-13-21-48-27-1 You see that? That thing that happens around mile 10? Yeah, near the END of the race?! It’s already going to be a challenge maintaining my goal pace but to have that to look forward to–well, that gives me the jitters. It helps (a little) that the very end is a decline but I’ll already be running on fumes by then anyway lol!

I’ve done hill work in my training. I know I’m about as ready as I can be for this. I think what’s left is to just trust what I’ve done. Believe that I can do it. I also know that if I don’t meet that goal time, I’m confident I will have improved from my previous two. And that’ll definitely be a win : )

Do you get nervous before a race?

Do you study/memorize the course and elevation map like a crazy person (me)?