Las Vegas Half Marathon: Race Recap

This is the most fun I have ever had running a race!  There were a few kinks...more for others from what I hear.  But I had an amazing time.

This was a night race so it was a long day.  I slept great the night before.  Probably because I didn't have to worry about getting up early and put no pressure on myself for this race.

Ryan and I ate a fabulous breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris.  We walked the strip and did some shopping for the kids.  Then we ate lunch at the Bellagio.  Yummy pizza.  Then we went back to the hotel to get some rest.  Pretty soon it was time to get dressed for the race.

Ready to Run!

We took the tram to the start.  So far so good.  Walked into Mandalay Bay and stayed warm.  Then we started out for our corral.  That is when I started to panic.  We walked out to corral 20 and we were in corral 3.  There were so many people that we could not get up to our corral.  We were literally fighting the crowds with many runners to try and get closer to the start.  When the National Anthem started playing, I knew we just needed to get in any corral.  We actually got pretty close, between corral 4 and 5.  The gun went off and so did we...

Very Packed at the Start

My garmin did not have time to warm up and didn't start until about 1 minute after I started running.  So my garmin time was a little off.

Garmin time: 1:52:25 (Pace: 8:35min/mile)

Official time: 1:53:32 (Pace 8:40min/mile)

Mile 1:  (8:32) Wow this is fun!  All the stress went away and I just appreciated what an amazing experience I was having. I am very happy that I didn't start off too fast either.  I am learning.

Amazing!

Mile 2:  (8:27) I was feeling so good.  Running under the lights and on the strip was amazing.

I am on the right.  

Mile 3:  (8:18) Picked up our pace a little.  Passing our hotel... the Bellagio.  Love.

Mile 4:  (8:27) Still running on the strip.

Doesn't that look fun?

Mile 5:  (8:14) Mile 5-8 were off the strip.  It was pretty dark but not too bad.  I am glad I brought my music. (First time ever for me).  It definitely helped keep me going when there wasn't much too look at.

Mile 6: (8:26)

Mile 7: (8:14)

Mile 8: (8:37)

Mile 9:  (8:33) My legs started feeling heavy.  But the strip was now back in few.  This really helped.

Mile 10:  (8:44) Pace slowing but I never felt like walking.  First time ever for me in a half marathon where I had no thoughts of walking.

Mile 11:  (9:18) Only mile with a 9 in front of it.

Mile 12:  (8:53) I really wanted to pick up the pace but my legs were now feeling the effects of my lack of training.

Mile 13: (8:58)
Mile 13.1 (8:15)

We did it!

I felt great when I finished.  Ryan and I got our picture taken, ate some food and more water and then headed back to the hotel.  Luckily we were able take the tram back.  Apparently the taxi line was hours long.  We showered up and then went out to eat at Olives.

I was so happy with how this race went.  I felt great almost the whole time (of course my legs were tired at the end), I enjoyed the scenery, and I wasn't too sore after.  It is ironic to me that I trained about 3x more for my last half marathon and I ran this one faster.  It makes me realize that I put way too much pressure on myself.  Oh yeah, and my foot felt perfect too.  I hope to run this race again!

Fun Times in Las Vegas

After not going on a vacation without the kids for 7 years, Ryan and I decided it was FINALLY time to get away by ourselves.

December 29th will be our 10 year anniversary.  Also Las Vegas was having a half marathon on the strip at night.  Since everyone knows how much I love to run, I thought this would be the perfect way to celebrate our anniversary.

Off to Vegas we went (without the kids)...

We arrived on Thursday and checked in to the Bellagio.

View from our room.  

Bellagio is perfectly located in the center of the strip.

I absolutely loved this hotel!  Our room was great and we had a fantastic view of the strip.  I would definitely stay there again but there are so many great hotels in Vegas so I would probably try another hotel next time.

Thursday night we went out to eat at Fix where we had a great meal and $20 cocktails. (Wow, Vegas is expensive).  Then we saw Ka (a cirque du soleil).

Friday we rented a car and drove to Zion National Park.  This was Ryan's highlight of the trip.  I thought it was spectactular too!  We hiked a total of 6 miles.  2 of those miles were literally straight uphill.  I was sooooo sore from this.  I was more sore from this hike then running the half marathon.

Breathtaking

This is only about half way up.  Yes I climbed this.  Do you see why I was so sore?

We're almost there

This is the part of the trail that literally goes straight up.  You have to hold onto the chain because if you slip you fall of the edge of the cliff and... About 1 person a year dies on this trail.  I did not even make it half way up before I got too scared.

Slowly making my way back down.

A flatter trail

After we were back in Vegas we ate at Scarpetta.  This was the only meal there that I did not like.

Saturday we went to the expo at the Venetian to pick up our bibs.  We found some good running gear there too.  We then did some more shopping along the strip.  I did not buy anything but Ryan did:)  Ryan is like most guys and does not like to go clothes shopping so it was fun to get some new clothes for him.

On Saturday night we met up with our neighbors, Alyssa and Travis along with some more of their friends, and ate at Tao.  It was a fun night!  I of course talked Alyssa's ear off about running.  I think one day she is going to send me a bill for all of the running questions I ask her.

One of our only pictures together and it is blurry...

Sunday was race day.  This day deserves a post of its own.  This was the highlight of the weekend for me.

Monday was our last day in Vegas.  We tried to make the most of the last few hours we had left of our vacation.  We finished it off by eating at Mon Ami Gabi again then it was off to the airport...

Not There Yet...

After my 6.2 miles of pain free running, I thought I had put my foot injury behind me.

No:(

On Saturday, I went for my longest run in a long, long time.  10 miles.  It felt good to run in the double digits again.  However, my foot starting hurting half way into the run.  It still hurts some. The pain is on the bottom of my foot now, around the 3rd metatarsal.  I have no idea what is going on.  I just know that I am frustrated.

The run itself was also discouraging.  I didn't think I was sore at all from the Turkey Trot, but after 3 miles my legs felt really heavy.  It was a slow and painful run.  I am not ready to run a half marathon next week.

But I am ready to go to Vegas!  Not even a bad run can take away my excitement!

Happy Thanksgiving: Turkey Trot Recap

Guess What?  I finished a race!!  Now that is something I am thankful for.

10K Race in 50:38 (8:09min/mile).

After the race photo

What else am I thankful for...

1.  My 3 amazing children!  They are the best things that have ever happened to me.  Pure love=Kaitlyn, Jackson and Nathan

2.  My wonderful husband, Ryan.  Next month will be our 10 year anniversary and we have been together for 16+ years.  I can't imagine going through life without him.

3.  My sister, Katie.  The bond we share is something I will always treasure.  I can be my complete self around her and she loves me no less.

4.  My brothers, Mike,Andrew, and Aaron.  I just wished they lived closer.  Hint, hint...

5.  My parents.  I know they will always be there for me no matter what.  They are also amazing grandparents.

6.  My friends.  I have some pretty wonderful friends from high school through residency and now grown up? friends.  They even let me call them an complain about stupid things like a bad run and listen like they truly care.

7.  My job.  I love my job!  I don't dream of doing anything else (except being a professional runner...ha!)

8.  Running.  Running has changed my life and I can't imagine not having it be a part of my life.  I feel like I can conquer the world after a good morning run.

9.  My healed foot?  Today in over 3 months I ran pain free!  It was amazing!

10.  My life.  It's like that song...What's there to complain about?

So on to my very happy race recap...  It was not a PR and actually is was my slowest 10K time ever (I have only done 3) but I ran pain free.  I forgot how good that feels.

Mile 1:  7:53
Mile 2:  8:09
Mile 3:  8:17
Mile 4:  8:16
Mile 5:  8:20
Mile 6: 8:16
Mile 6.2:  7:17


Mile 1...felt good.  I really didn't want to start out that fast since I have done 0 speed work in months but it is hard to slow down in a race.
Mile 2... Smiling, loving life.  Some down hills that I loved flying down.
Mile 3... Holding strong, still smiling
Mile 4....At this point, I started playing leap frog with a guy.  At the end I pulled away and then he caught me and sprinted past me at the finish.  After the race he turned around and gave me a high five.  I love runners!  It's like we are all in it together and everyone tries to push each other to finish strong:)
Mile 5...This mile was all up hill.  Nothing too steep but constant.
Mile 6... I never felt like I wanted to walk.  I still had the biggest smile on face.  Because did I mention that I was running pain free!
Last .2...I gave it all I had through the finish.

So unfortunately I was not listening at the start of the race and ran over the wrong timing mat (there was also a 5K race) and so my chip time was not recorded only my overall time.  Which was not accurate because I was in the middle of the pack.  So I used my overall garmin time.  My garmin was right on with the mile markers too.

Ryan also ran a great race and Kaitlyn did the 5K and came in 3rd in her age division!

Kaitlyn after finishing her 5K race.  

We had a car full of 9 people that did the Turkey Trot:  Ryan and I did the 10K.  Andrew, Aaron, Kaitlyn, Braedon, Katie, Katie, and Cyndi did the 5K.  Super fun morning!  Followed by a wonderful thanksgiving meal.

I wish I had some more time to actually train properly for my next half marathon in 1 week!  But I am so happy that I finally feel like I am on the right track again with my running.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Quick Update

It's been awhile since I have written a post.  Probably because I didn't want to sound like a broken record...

My foot is still hurting and I have been doing lots of cross training.

Actually my 2nd metatarsal stress fracture feels great.  However I am having pain in a few different spots in the same foot.  I have been taking the running really easy.  Running only 2-3x/week and very low mileage.

I have been spinning, swimming and ellipticalling.  Not as much fun but I hope it keeps me in descent shape until I can really start running again.

Even though my running has been minimal I have two fun races coming up.  I am doing a 10K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving and Half Marathon in Vegas in about 2 weeks.  I have to keep telling myself that I am not in racing condition.  I am very competitive with myself and I know my times will not be something that I will be proud of.  But I do not want to push myself and get more hurt either.

I can't wait to start posting some positive reports about running.  Until then I will keep pushing myself in the gym.

Happy Running (and cross training)!

Fall Trip to Brown County

Kaitlyn and Jackson were on fall break this past Thursday and Friday.  We took our third annual trip to Brown County State Park.  It is absolutely beautiful there this time of year.

Brown County State Park

We stayed in a cabin called The Snoozing Moose Lounge for 2 nights this year.  It is so cozy and secluded.  The views from the porches were amazing.

Porch at the Cabin

Warm and Cozy

The kids loved playing around in the leaves, playing family games, and their favorite thing was the hot tub.  My favorite thing was just hanging out with them.

Front Porch

Hot Tub

We also did lots of hiking at the State Park.  Nothing too intense though with a two year old.

Lots of Trails

Climbing Trees

Nathan loves to be outside!

Our dog, Indy

It was a perfect little get away.  I didn't check my phone, email, or blogs for 2 days.  Just what I needed...no feeling bad about how I am not running 10+ miles at at 7 something pace, not worrying about work, laundry, etc.  Just relaxing.

But when I came back to the real world...I had a big present waiting for me.  The pavement!
Yes it has been 3 weeks and my foot is feeling great.  So I did it.

My first run back.  I was scared at first.  Would my legs remember what to do, would my foot hold up, would my lungs be able to keep up.

I felt great for the first mile.  8:20 pace.  I thought...Yes, cross training does work.  Then, oooh, my legs feel heavy, my lungs are burning, and every mile seems to take forever.  But then I remembered how grateful I am to be running at all.  So I slowed down (a lot) and just enjoyed myself.  I did pick it up for the last mile.  I ran just over 5 miles at an average pace of 8:36.

The Monon Trail was Beautiful

I need to work on my endurance.  I need to work on losing these 5+ pounds I have gained while not running.  I need to work on not getting injured again.

But, I love, love, love running.  Yes spinning is ok.  Swimming is fun.  Core work is hard (I did this the first time on Monday and I am still sore).  But nothing compares to running for me.  It is part of me.  I feel complete again.

Happy Running!

My Thoughts on the Gym

I went to the gym 4 times this week.  I am pretty sure that is a record for me.  Even though I love to exercise, I don't love the gym.

I don't feel like I fit in to the gym stereotype.  There are so many cute girls/women there with their cute little outfits and their hair and make up just perfect.  Definitely not me!

But I continue to go because... I can't run.

I  did another spinning class today.  I think I finally found something that will hold me over until I can run again.  I was a sweaty mess.  The class was packed today.  Maybe 50 people.  They actually ran out of spin bikes.

Now even though the class is made up of all shapes and sizes, the front row of girls (and a few guys) are definitely hard core.  I guess some people love biking as much as running.  I don't get it;)

The biggest thing I don't get at the gym is the people that read a book or magazine while they are working out.  Are you there to read or workout?  If I can read then I am not working hard enough.  To me it's like studying while watching TV.  It can be done, but not very well.

There are many other things I don't quite get.  I think I could get burnt out from the gym pretty quick but I have a big goal to reach.  That sub 4 hour marathon will be mine.  Someday!  Until then, I will see you at the gym.