It's not often when things in life just fall into place without being forced. Not only that, when multiple things fall into place, I wait until life just implodes. Cuz that's how life rolls for me.
Over the past few weeks I've had some really good races and runs. The ones that didn't go according to the plan were FRAGO'd (military slang for "fragmented order", meaning an updated, changed or revised operational order or plan) so I could merely complete them. I tried to not be such a stickler to a training plan at each run, with the exception of my speedwork and tempo runs (the ones I could accommodate with work). All the other runs, I didn't kill myself over pace. This was frustrating because for the longest time, 11:30 min/mi long runs felt glacially slow, and I wondered if that's all I could schlep come race day. More on that later.
But about a month before the half marathon, my shorter and mid-length runs were producing good results. My 10K race PR went from a little over an hour to an easy sub-58 minute. My 5k PR was also reduced by nearly 30 seconds. I think this was a combination of weight loss (about 17 lbs since January) and adding regular speedwork back into the mix (something that wasn't really emphasized in my Sehgahunda training, since the goal was to just survive)
I also started a new job in July after graduating from nursing school in May. While I'm only working 4 days a week, I've worked a lot of 7pm-7am shifts which wipe me out for a good two days after a stretch. I wasn't able to get many quality long runs in, with the exception of a trail half-marathon in August. I also learned that my body hates me after anything more than 13 miles on roads...my body is more tired after trails but not nearly as beat up. So, come race day, I had no expectations or limitations.
 |
| Beautiful (albeit sideways!) Rochester morning. Photo courtesy Barb Boutillier |
I rode over to the race with my friend Amy (with whom I'm traveling to the Army Ten Miler next month). I met up with friends Pete (prepping for Chicago Marathon) and Heather (a classmate running her first half marathon), took care of pre-start business, and basked in what was summing up to be a perfect day to race...50s, cool, no wind. Amy and I chatted about our goals (her dream as a 2:15, but having nursed an injured hip over the past few months, she also just wanted to stay upright and not die at the finish!), we gave each other a hug and with Ellen's "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!", we passed under a beautiful American flag suspended between two ladder trucks.
 |
| Passing under a flag never gets old! Photo courtesy Barb Boutiller |
 |
| photo courtesy Brightroom |
The first 3-4 miles or so were pretty uneventful...Amy and I kept about a 10 min/mile pace, Heather was right behind me. We turned onto Winton Road from East Avenue (where a lone trombone player played "St. Louis Blues"!), and started what would be about 2 miles of uphill and rolling hills. I looked back at Heather, said "hills for about 2 miles, then you're good!", and without realizing it, I dropped Amy (who jokingly called out "show-off!) and strided up the hill, figuring if I lollygagged these hills too conservatively, my race would be over. While I've never run this race, I'm more than familiar with the hills on this route...how steep they were, how long they would take, and most importantly...when they would be over. I saw fellow trail runner Teresa cheering at about mile 4.5, gave her the thumbs up, and just kept chugging.
 |
| Photo courtesy Brightroom |
Left on Clinton, down towards the canal, into the park and onto the Erie Canal Path...one of my least favorite places to run on any other day, but today it felt good. Seems like every path intersection I saw Duane, one of my training partners, on his bike. At every encounter he challenged me to catch up to his wife Nancy, about 60 seconds ahead. Initially cocky and sure I could catch up to her, at about 8 miles I decided to let it go...still in my sights, but I also needed to run my own race and I'm feeling good at this point.
One spectator was holding a great sign. I wasn't feeling any pain, but I was definitely enjoying the moment.
 |
| photo courtesy Rochester Democrat and Chronicle |
Once we hit Genesee Valley Park, the race was in it's final stages. Lots of crowd support, the "Rocky" theme blaring (which always makes me think of my brother, a one-time professional boxer currently serving with the US Army Special Forces in the Middle East), I see my friend Christine cheering me from a tree (chomping down on pizza, to boot!), Endurance Team member Laura, and I'm starting to feel overwhelmed in a good way! I have run every step of this race and still felt good. My knees weren't hating me. My breathing is still controlled. And for the first time ever in a race over 7 miles, I'm running a sub 10-minute mile pace!
But despite feeling good, the constant beeping of a nearby runner's watch was irritating the shit out of me. And of course, she had earphones on and didn't know. I was getting really, REALLY cranky and stepped up the pace through the park and through U of R campus.
The last 2 miles felt the longest, but the Penfield Cross Country team was manning the last water stop, and were they ever a pick-me-up! Plenty of high-fives, genuine encouragement, and jokes! And a lone spectator was another 100 meters ahead, at the turn up Plymouth Avenue, telling us "one last hill on Plymouth, then flat to downhill the rest of the way. C'mon, you can do it!"
 |
| Best water stop! Photo courtesy MVP Rochester Marathon FB page |
The last stretch, with 1.1 miles to go, I turned on whatever rockets I had left. How many people could I pick off? I don't know, but I was ready to be done!
 |
| Photo courtesy Barb Boutillier |
 |
| Photo courtesy Brightroom |
Gun time: 2:08.59; chip time 2:08:07 74/160 AG
Nancy beat me by about 2 minutes :-)
 |
| Photo courtesy Barb Boutillier |
Amy, you know, the one who dreamed to run a 2:15, actually scored a PR! 2:14:43. Pretty swell after injury!
 |
| photo courtesy Barb Boutillier |
Pete, "Mr. Ridiculously Fast For a Ginger", is more than squared away for the Chicago Marathon...1:37:22
 |
| Photo courtesy Brightroom |
And my nursing school classmate Laura...I knew she battled some serious childhood illnesses, but I didn't know until after the race that she graduated 5th grade in a wheelchair. She looked great at the end of her first half marathon, finishing around 2:21!
 |
It's all about the bling! Photo courtesy Barb Boutillier
Here's to a great Army Ten Miler, and a fall trail running season!
|
