I am super bummed!
I did not meet my goal of running a PR today. 🙁
My half-marathon PR ~ 1:36
Today’s time ~ 1:39
Half-Marathon #7 ~ Skinny Raven Half-Marathon (Anchorage, AK)
(I will update as soon as the final results are posted.)
Unofficial time: 1:39.56
Overall place:
Overall women: 11?
Age group (25-29): 4?
Splits:
Mile 1&2 – 15:03
Mile 3 – 7:19
Mile 4 – 7:19
Mile 5 7:29
Mile 6 7:32
Mile 7&8 – 15:42
Mile 9 – 7:28
Mile 10 – 8:00 (yikes!)
Mile 11 – 7:21 (I think this was a short mile.)
Mile 12 – 7:47
Mile 13 – 8:41 (Can you tell I was tired?)
*****
I don’t know what happened!??! I was really optimistic I was going to run a PR today, but I guess today wasn’t my day.
I didn’t PR in the marathon this summer either, so I feel like I am doing something wrong. 🙁
Anyway, backing up to this morning. I woke up at 6:30 a.m. I didn’t have to leave until 8 a.m., but I didn’t want to feel rushed, so I gave myself ample time to get ready.
I had half of a bagel with peanut butter and sliced banana on it two hours prior to the start of the race. I also had the rest of the banana with more peanut butter.
The Big Wild Life Runs started in downtown Anchorage.
The sky was nearly cloudless. And with temps in the low 60s, I really couldn’t have asked for better weather!
When I got to the start, I did some light jogging, put my chip on my shoe, and stretched.
At 9 a.m., we were off.
I am in the bright yellow shorts.
When I started out, I didn’t want to push my pace too much, but I also didn’t want to run my first mile in 9:21 like I did in the marathon!
Overall, I felt pretty strong for the first few miles.
I kept telling myself, you are only running *half* the distance of a marathon, so you’ve got to keep up a decent pace!
I think it worked.
About half-way through, I started to struggle more.
I took one GU around mile 6.5 and then grabbed water at mile 7.
The last mile was definitely the worst. I was really tired and just wanted to be done!
The finishing chute I kept dreaming about!
Here I come!
I was SO glad to be done!
Very tired!
My biggest fan! Love you, Babe!
I walked around for a bit, stretched, and then called my family to let them know how I did.
After a while, I grabbed a couple snacks from Great Harvest. I am always happy to see Great Harvest at the end of the race!
I had a piece of white bread. I tasted different than most white breads, but I liked it.
I also had part of a cookie, but I was not impressed. I actually threw part of it away because I didn’t like it at all.
I had fun painting my fingernails so they matched my shorts. (This one’s for you, Meagan H.!)
Overall, I thought this was a great race. The course was all on paved trails, it was flat, and the race seemed well-organized.
I thought there was a sufficient number of aid stations throughout the course. There wasn’t one every mile—more like every two miles, but that was enough for me.
The trail we ran on followed the creek, so we had some nice views of nature. (Although I hardly noticed because I was so focused on my running.)
Well, that concludes the recap of my race.
I am still sad I didn’t PR.. . . . maybe I’m getting too old for this. 😕
Although I am still glad I raced and am proud of myself because I know there are a lot of people out there who will never run 13.1 miles in their life!
Have you tried eating 2 energy gels during a half? It could be that you just didn’t have fuel left in your body.
It is a great time anyway 🙂 Congratulations!
Thanks!
I haven’t tried 2 energy gels before. It doesn’t seem like I am running long enough to warrant 2 gels!?!?
Have you tried eating 2 energy gels during a half? It could be that you just didn’t have fuel left in your body.
It is a great time anyway 🙂 Congratulations!
Thanks!
I haven’t tried 2 energy gels before. It doesn’t seem like I am running long enough to warrant 2 gels!?!?
You’re not getting too old! I swore by the end of the summer I was getting slower as each 5K I did took longer than the time before. You’ll get your groove back I’m sure! That’s still a great time! I’m hoping to be just over 2 hours for my second half in Sept.
Good luck!!
You’re not getting too old! I swore by the end of the summer I was getting slower as each 5K I did took longer than the time before. You’ll get your groove back I’m sure! That’s still a great time! I’m hoping to be just over 2 hours for my second half in Sept.
Good luck!!
Sorry you didn’t get the time you wanted I know you were really looking forward to the run. As you state in your last paragraph there are people who will never run 13.1 miles. Some of us won’t even run any race and want to so keep trucking along.
Good for you for wanting to keep trucking along!!
Sorry you didn’t get the time you wanted I know you were really looking forward to the run. As you state in your last paragraph there are people who will never run 13.1 miles. Some of us won’t even run any race and want to so keep trucking along.
Good for you for wanting to keep trucking along!!
Dad says you need to eat bacon and eggs for breakfast. A bigger breakfast will hold you over for more hours. Add more meat and protein to your diet. You are lacking iron in your diet and a vitamin pill only helps some.
We are some of those people who will never run 13.1 miles in our life. We are proud that you can do it!!!
From your loving parents!!
I do eat bacon and eggs! My multi-vitamin has 100% iron in it, so I should be getting enough iron.
You could run 13.1 miles if you wanted to badly enough!
Dad says you need to eat bacon and eggs for breakfast. A bigger breakfast will hold you over for more hours. Add more meat and protein to your diet. You are lacking iron in your diet and a vitamin pill only helps some.
We are some of those people who will never run 13.1 miles in our life. We are proud that you can do it!!!
From your loving parents!!
I do eat bacon and eggs! My multi-vitamin has 100% iron in it, so I should be getting enough iron.
You could run 13.1 miles if you wanted to badly enough!
I personally think that you did an amazing job! I just ran 3 miles under 30 minutes and I am so pumped. So you can just imagine what my mind is thinking seeing that you are running 7.? miles!!!
WOW
I personally think that you did an amazing job! I just ran 3 miles under 30 minutes and I am so pumped. So you can just imagine what my mind is thinking seeing that you are running 7.? miles!!!
WOW
I’m sorry you didn’t get your PR. I think it’s even more frustrating when you are only a few minutes off 🙁
However, I do NOT think you are too old for this! Look back at the last few weeks of training – did you not taper enough? did you do speed work too closely to the race? I’m guessing there is something along those lines behind this and it has nothing to do with your awesome running skills.
I’m sorry you didn’t get your PR. I think it’s even more frustrating when you are only a few minutes off 🙁
However, I do NOT think you are too old for this! Look back at the last few weeks of training – did you not taper enough? did you do speed work too closely to the race? I’m guessing there is something along those lines behind this and it has nothing to do with your awesome running skills.
You did great!!! I am proud of you!!! Your heart is healthy and happy!!! What a blessing to be able to run a half marathon. I run 5K’s but hope to one day work my way up to a half!!! That’s why I follow your blog….for motivation to keep pushing myself (and b/c my hubby wants to move to Alaska)!!!
Where do you live now?
We live in Texas right now….my hubby is in the Army. He would love to get stationed at Fort Richardson. We are from Iowa, so know the cold and snow deal….but not as much as ya’ll get there!!
Our winters are the longest of anyone. I thought it wouldn’t be too bad coming from Minnesota, but it was harder than I thought!
You did great!!! I am proud of you!!! Your heart is healthy and happy!!! What a blessing to be able to run a half marathon. I run 5K’s but hope to one day work my way up to a half!!! That’s why I follow your blog….for motivation to keep pushing myself (and b/c my hubby wants to move to Alaska)!!!
Where do you live now?
We live in Texas right now….my hubby is in the Army. He would love to get stationed at Fort Richardson. We are from Iowa, so know the cold and snow deal….but not as much as ya’ll get there!!
Our winters are the longest of anyone. I thought it wouldn’t be too bad coming from Minnesota, but it was harder than I thought!
I bet it’s harder, because you’re really coaching yourself, and hard to know exactly why you were three minutes off. It wasn’t too long after your marathon either. I still think 1:39 is an incredible time!
Thank you!
I bet it’s harder, because you’re really coaching yourself, and hard to know exactly why you were three minutes off. It wasn’t too long after your marathon either. I still think 1:39 is an incredible time!
Thank you!