Her Tern Half Marathon Race Report

I'll cut to the good stuff, I finished the Her Tern Half Marathon yesterday and it was pretty good!  If you read my Night Before Jitters you know I was struggling with some decisions and was overall really anxious for this race.

Here I come in the blue visor

Well I definitely made a few wrong decisions, mainly the start time - I should have started early.  In the end I was around number 500 of 700 folks but in reality due to a lot of people starting early there were maybe 15 people who finished the race behind me.  It got lonely on the field.  The second mistake I made was one that I knew better but did it anyways.  I found Hoka shoes last week and fell in love.  It was such deep love I decided to wear them in the race without having worn them on any other runs...and without my normal insoles.  Yep go ahead, tell me that was a silly idea.  I agree!  So for the last 6 miles of the race, my arch screamed, my feet blistered and I kicked myself in the butt!  What a rookie mistake!

Run Happy! (With my sister, Im on the left)

Apart from the mistakes the run was actually surprisingly good.  My hip felt pretty good and the 9:1 run walk combo I did was dynamite!  Thanks to Katie from Runs for Cookies I got the idea to run faster for 9 tenths of a mile then walk the last 1 tenth of a mile.  The miles ticked by much fasters, I felt better and I ran 10 minute faster than the half I ran in June!  In June I trained hard and felt amazing and ran a 2:50.  Since that half I got injured, ran 1 long run and felt blech and ran a 2:40.  I think I found something good.  I think if I was having a good day the walk/run could easily get me a PR of under 2:30.  That PR has previously felt so far away but now it just may be in reach!  Whoohoo!

With my sister, Im on the Left.  Enjoying our mimosas!!

About the race, this race is a new one here in Anchorage, it is only its second year and it is touted as the boutique road race.  It is put on by the fancy clothes store that is a sister store to our local running store.  The race fee is high so I was curious if I was going to think it was worth it after the fact.  In all I was surprised to say I really liked it!  I can be pretty frugal so I thought I would only do this race once, but it was so much fun I may pay the $100 race fee again next year.  The race was on a nice easy local trail, well marked, had great aid stations and best of all ended with mimosas in custom glasses that we got to keep.  If that isn't good enough there was a fun party afterwards with yummy gluten free cupcakes, a kids bouncy house, a DJ and fun giveaways.  The only thing I wasn't so keen about was the bracelet they gave away instead of a medal wasn't my style and broke instantly.  Bummer.  But overall I would recommend this race for others for next year.

Will Race For Mimosas! (with refills - Im on the Right this time)

I just came back from physical therapy and was told an amazing story that I have to pass along as it is the embodiment of "running happy."  The last half mile of the race was uphill like all races around here are.  It makes it really chalenging and I think the race directors have a sick sense of humor.  Anyways I didn't mention there is one lucky guy that gets to run with all of these women in this race.  This guy who was picked was awesome, when I saw him he was standing at the bottom of the hill and running up the hill with women coaching them all the way.  When I got to the hill he ran with me and gave me tips to swing my arms and keep my head up.  He told me where the finish line was and how far to get there, it was SUCH an encouragement!  I thought he was really awesome based on that, but I almost cried when my PT, whose daughter worked at the race, told me that he actually stopped at the base of the hill, he didn't cross the finish line, and he ran women up the hill until every woman crossed the finish line...then he crossed the finish line himself.  Isnt that wonderful?  What a fantastic guy and real embodiement of running for the journey.  I don't know this guy anything more than his name was Jay, but hats off to him!

Night Before Jitters

My stomach is turning, I am second guessing each of my clothing choices, food choices, hydration choices and oddly my start time  Does anyone else go through this night before anxiety?  My rational brain knows it silly and pointless yet I still do it before every race.

Tomororow I am running Skinny Raven's Her Tern Half Marathon.  I am currently 60% nervous and 40% excited.  Hopefully that will change after a good nights sleep.  Right now I am drinking some gatoraid and checking the weather, possible rain - which doesnt bode well with my tank top but 60 degrees, which in Alaska is very warm.  So tank top, capris and visor it is!

Apart from clothing options, I am nicely carb loaded and already have my gluten free pancakes made up in the fridge for the morning.  My last issue that I have control over which is causing me anxiety is my start time.  This race has the option for people who are running a 2:45-3hr half marathon to start at 8am.  My half PR is 2:30 but I have run as slow as a 2:50.  I want to start early, but the race folks are reccomending I start with everyone else at 9am.  The issue is if I start at 9am, I will be one of the last folks to cross the finish line and join the party.  I may miss the awards, prizes and hopefully not the mimosas!  If I start at 8am and have a great race I could come in close to the first woman which would be super awkward!  I am thinking about splitting the difference and starting a half hour early instead of an hour.  Hopefully the timing chip mat is on and I dont look too crazy running alone.  The rest will catch up quickly!

Otherwise I am naturally stressing about the fact I have not run in 2 weeks and am committing the sin of running in brand new running shoes!  I suppse we will see how it all goes!

How crazy do I sound?  Please tell me someone else goes through this the night before a race?

Wish me luck!  Run Happy Run Healthy :)

Gear Review-

My name is Kayse and I am a running gear junkie.  There I admit it.  My husband laughs when people say running is a cheap sport, not for me.  I love running gear.  I love reading about it, finding new gear, trying it out on runs and telling other people about it.  I definitely have some favorites so I wanted to take this time to tell you about some of my favorites as well as two new pieces of gear that I am ridiculously excited about.

I love running gear!

Gear Gear Gear!

Tried and True Favs
Brooks Adrenaline - Like many runners out there, for a long time the folks at Brooks have done me well.  I have run in many pairs of adrenalines GTS and Pureflows and really love the way they cup my foot.  You cant go wrong with adrenalines, but as you will see below I am not completely brand loyal and have found a possibly new shoe to fill my heart, it may be too soon to declare true love but I'm feeling tingly....

Pretty shoes!

Just a few pairs -its too hard to throw them away!

Studded Running Shoes - For six months of our year up here in Alaska it is either snowy, icy or both.  Running in the winter can be really fun, Ill admit I go through fazes with it.  But if your gonna run or even walk during some of our icy weather you need studs on your shoes.  They are super cheap and easy and I usually ski more in the winter so I take shoes that have seen their day on the pavement and stud them for the winter.  Because of the limited miles and the cush from the snow, these old shoes are able to live another winter after I stud them.  Its wonderful and absolutely essential!  We have a running store up here that will stud new shoes for free, old shoes for $10 and I think they stud senior citizen shoes for free or maybe $5.  There are other options you can wrap around your shoes to get traction, the benefit is you are able to take them off easily and use the shoes indoors, but I have never been a big fan of running in them. 

Studded running shoes - essential for 6 months of the year up here!

Under Armor Tights - These are just awesome, I didn't specify a type as I have had many pairs from heat gear capris to cold gear tights that I layer with my long johns when it gets below 0 in the winter. UA knows how to make quality tights that keep their shape and fit well around my rather round rear.  Pants that don't cup my goods can leave a very unpleasant chafe so I am a big fan of not having to use the body glide in awkward places!

The most fun UA pants I own!

Fit Bit - I know this isn't really running gear as I use my watch or Map My Run for distance but I love how Fit Bit encourages me to keep moving during the day even if I have already gone on a run.  I also love when it buzzes when I still have many miles to run, it makes me feel pretty awesome knowing how many steps that being an active runner gets me!

kicking it with my steps!

Garmin Watch - My Garmin and I have had a love hate along the way as I learned to use it correctly and it crapped out on my early.  But after Garmin sent me a new one and I learned some tricks it has been smooth sailing.  While my garmin is definitely my first choice, I also use Map My Run when I need a actual map to try to prevent me from getting lost...not that it always works!

Frantically charging my watch before my run

Sometimes I run loopy loops!

Aasics Visor - It may seem trivial, but this visor really makes my day.  I have never been a hat or a visor runner before but it keeps the sweat and rain out of my eyes and is so darn comfortable!

Love my visor!

 

I wear this thing everywhere!

Headphones - I have gone through so many pairs of head phones trying to find one that wrapped around my ear and actually fit because none of those silly ear buds would stay in.  That is until I found Yurbuds headphones.  The twist and lock ear buds are the real deal, they actually stay in.  I have no idea how people run without music, I am hopelessly addicted so these things are amazing!

These headphones are the best!

Nathan Belts - I am a bit of a music addict so I need a thin belt that doesn't move much to house my I phone while I run and this belt is working for me.  It works so well my husband borrows it on runs and returns it all sweaty, yuck!  *Note - my husband just came home with an amphipod running belt that looks really nice, I plan to steal it for my next run and try it out!

House key, Gu, and a phone fit perfect!

New Fun Finds
Camelbak Marathoner Vest - As I admitted before I am a bit of a gear junky so it shouldn't be surprising to see me on the trail with enough gear to complete an ultra even though my route is only 10 miles.  This vest makes me feel a bit silly sometimes but I love it!  I picked this up for an upcoming 16-17 mile mtn race in which I will hike quite a bit so Ill be on the trail for a long time.  It holds a lot of water and has extra pockets for my gu and phone.  I love that it has two clasps so it stays really stable on my body.  My husband wore it once when I was utilizing my awesome waist belt and he thought it constricted his breathing a bit, but I think that was because he used it for a fast 3 mile run.  I'm excited to use this vest for my marathon training next summer!

The Camelbak Marathoner Vest

Love it!

 Hokas - Oh the Hokas.  So I will admit I committed the all time running sin of trying something new on race day with these babies.  I found the Hokas during my 2 week total taper/IT rehab before my last half marathon and I loved them so much I decided to wear them for the first time on race day....without my normal insoles.  It was dumb and I paid for it.  After that I was worried I wouldn't like my new "magic" shoes, but after some breaking in and adding my normal insoles I think these shoes and I are going to get along just fine.  The Hokas have less of a heel drop than my normal stability shoes which keeps me from being such a heel striker but they don't sacrifice cush which is what other minimal shoes tend to do.  The cush of these shoes I think is what is saving my knee and hip, its wonderful.  I will have to save some judgement as I haven't broken the file mile mark in them yet, but so far so good!  *Why these photos keep coming up upside down is killing me!

Look at the cush!

Hokas!

I love Tris!

Other Gear - Since I am not just a runner I also have other gear that I am in love with.  Here are my Giro clip in bike shoes, my zoot tri suit, and just some fun local gear.  I got the Alaska jersey as a birthday gift and the swim cap from my favorite local tri - Tri the Kenai! 

Plan B

Good Morning,

You know how sometimes you have the best laid running plans and it just doesn't work?  I have had to alter my running plans the last few weeks due to a nagging pain that I feared was about to turn into more.  I will admit I didn't change plans easily.  Last Monday I debated with my husband about whether this pain in my leg that had been ongoing for a month actually necessitated a doctors appointment.  Well I stubbornly decided that I didn't need a doctor, which was a silly idea but in my defense I had a bad experience with doctors in January after I had many tests on my neck due to a sail boat mast/neck/honeymoon injury.

Anyways you know how it works, a few hours after that conversation I had to call my husband to pick me up 4 miles into my 10 mile long run.  Grrr!  In true dramatic fashion I called 5 physical therapists and a Rolfer before my husband was able to drive the 10 minutes to pick me up.  None of them seemed to share my panic and need for them to be at the office at 6pm and ready to see me immediately...hmmm.

Being a good girl I took a break from running after that day, which has now been 8 days ago, and  have since gone to the PT once and the Rolfer once as well as I have another appt. in a few hours. The new plan is to take the two week total taper and continue to see my PT to work through my lingering bursitis issues in my hip so I can run a half marathon this weekend.  My husband thinks Im nuts but I think I can rock out a run/walk with minimal pain and hopefully no damage.  Then I will go back to PT until things subside.  Do you think this is a good plan?  I haven't really been injured before so this is all pretty frustrating.  But through this I have found something new and fun, rolfing.  Anyone done this before?  I didn't know what it was when I showed up, and Im not sure I can accurately describe it so I will put in a link to do it for me.
www.rolfing.org
All I can say is it felt wonderful and I cant wait to go back!  The pain in my thigh that I had been fighting for weeks went away and my hips felt so good after I went to her.  The only problem is it is not cheap nor covered by my insurance so I only get a couple visits before I go broke!  They say running is a cheap sport, ha!

On top of  PT/Rolfing/Taper plan I also am dabbling in a little bit of aqua jogging.  This is completely new to me but I think I got it the other day.  After swimming I went into the deep end with my belt and just went for it.  I think the key is acting like I am sprinting.  If I dont try to run really fast I feel like I am either pedaling a bike or stomping my feet.  But sprinting gets me a more natural running feel.  Have any of you aqua jogged?  It is a good workout, I was really tired afterwards!

Well that is my Plan B and I hope to be able to report to you next Monday that it all worked well and I had a great race.  This next run is all ladies and one lucky guy.  It ends with mimosas and a bracelet instead of a medal, Im super excited!

Well I don't have any exciting pics from PT and my lack of running so here are a couple randoms of my lovely family.

My husband and I on the Kenai River

Left to Right - My sister mom and I enjoying some champagne at an Oyster Bar!

Summer Playtime

Hello,
How cool was it that I was featured on Runs for Cookies Motivational Monday!  I am so honored to get to be a part of her blog and meet so many new people. So if you found me through her blog, welcome and thanks for visiting!

On the running front I am 3 weeks out from my next half and feeling a bit nervous. I have had a pain in my thigh for a few weeks that I am fairly sure is IT band related so I have been trying to be diligent about my stretching and rolling to help that heal without having to go to PT.  Once I start running it doesn't hurt much it's just the first bit that there's a funny ache. Yikes!  Do any of you have IT band issues?  What do you do for them?  I went for a long run on Monday, first since my half. I decided to go 10 miles which has become my happy distance and it really was.  I did a 9-1 run walk, any of you do that?  It was awesome, Galloway has a point, I ran my fastest 10miler and am fairly sure I will use this method to cut some time off my next half. It's fantastic!

Not my 10 mile but a nice early morning 4 mike tempo run.

What a beautiful run to start my day!

Other than running fun I am a very lucky lady in the fact that I have summer break.  This summer is 8 weeks of playing just like a school kid. Even better?  My husband has summers off as well!  So far this summer we have rocked out a picnic table that is nice enough to be indoors but other than that we have not been responsible adults and rather we have played our hearts out like the kids we really are. It's fantastic in one day we will walk, bike, play softball, go to the driving range and more!  I am currently exhausted from a lot of playing in this amazing summer heat wave we have been having. Yes 75 is freaking hot in Alaska. When the rain comes back I will work on my summer list of to dos but for now I will bandage my blisters and sunscreen up for another day of running, biking and swimming!  What activity makes your kid heart come out?  Biking really fast makes me feel like ageless!

Look at the table we made, our first project!

A slightly more serious summer activity I got the nerve to engage in is swimming. I grew up on an
island so I always swam for fun but in terms of actual proper swimming for triathlons I have a lot of learning to do. So last night I got the nerve to attend a swim class with a local tri trainer. I was so nervous I couldn't breathe!  But it was a great class, Lisa is so nice and helpful and I think this class will be key to my success in future triathlons!  I have a long way to go but I'm excited to get started. By the way I did not know how exhausted I would be after an hour of hard swimming. I thought I may have to have my husband spoon dinner into my mouth because my arms were so tired!

Hiking in the Chugach. 

amazing view!

Well I hope you all are getting ready for a fun holiday weekend. We don't have too much going on which feels weird because back home this was a big deal holiday. Up here the ability to do fireworks with 20 hours of daylight is not good so we celebrate a bit differently. I think we will have a BBQ and maybe go to a parade but otherwise just enjoy the weather.

I am really excited to keep working on some posts on a review of some new gear I got as well as info about two different marathon training programs I am looking at for next year so keep looking for those!

Take care!