Savannah Rock n Roll Half Marathon Recap 2014

My very first half marathon was from the Rock n Roll series in St. Pete, FL so I decide to give Savannah, GA a try.  A girls' weekend with my Suncoast Strider running peeps.

With a new marathon PR under my belt, I wanted to run a half marathon under 2:00 hours.  I wasn't sure if Savannah would be the place I'd try or if I wanted to enjoy my run.  Because let's face it, if I'm trying to PR or beat a time, I'm not enjoying the pace I have to keep.  I picked up a free pace bracelet from the expo incase I decided to go for under 2 hours...at an average 9:09 pace for 13.1 miles.  Yikes!

photo by David

I had a great time at the Savannah Rock n Roll Expo!  Some of the vendors had discounted shirts, jewelry and PB2 for only $5.  I loved getting deals at this expo instead of everything being full price.  After a little sight seeing, dinner and hotel drama, I settled in for a fantastic night sleep.  The start corrals were literally right in front of our hotel on Bay Street.



Pre-race team pic, photo by David

The weather was a cool 46 degrees and crisp with humidity.  I had another throw-away jacket from Goodwill to keep me warm while I waited in my corral for the race to start.  I decided to try for a 2 hour finish time.  I honestly didn't think I'd get close because my weekday runs sucked since Chicago and I didn't do any runs longer than 6 miles.  My friend, Patty, offered to try to pace me for a 2:00 finish time.

My corral started shortly after 7:00am.  After warming up, I tossed my jacket about a quarter mile into the course.  Patty and I were going strong, keeping a nice pace.  I wasn't used to running with Patty and knew she ran faster than me so that pushed me a little because I didn't want to hold her back.  At about mile 3 when I started to feel the effects of my exertion, I told Patty that she didn't have to stay with me if she wanted to take off, but she stayed.

I ate a vanilla GU with caffeine WHILE I RAN.  I finally mastered that task while running.  Yeah me!!  If only I could drink water without spilling or pouring it up my nose, while running.  That caffeine GU gave me a boost!  I felt great for the next couple of miles.

I loved the course so far with even streets and cheering spectators along the way.  Handmade signs always make me smile.  This race my favorite was "You've got stamina, call me".  The water stations were well managed and the GU station was clearly visible.  At about mile 7, Patty needed to slow down but she told me to keep going.  I felt great so I continued on the course.

I needed some energy around mile 10 so I tried the salted watermelon GU.  Not my favorite, nor will I try it again.  According to my free pace bracelet, I was more than a minute behind pace.  At this point, I stopped looking at my Garmin and pace bracelet and just ran the 5K I had left.  I knew I wouldn't be under 2:00 but thought I could still PR.

The last part of the course (it felt like a mile but was probably a quarter mile) was a continuous incline to the finish line.  I had a little bit of a sprint in me as I crossed the finish line with a new PR of 2:02:26!

photo by David

You can't see the chocolate milk in my right hand but it was cold and delicious after running 13.1 miles.  I drank two!

photo by David

photo by David

We ran in support of Friedreich's Ataxia, a progressive neuro-muscular disease, for Team Gavin & Team Mike.  With permission from his doctor, Mike ran the entire half marathon!  We were so proud of our fellow Strider and his accomplishment!

Mike in blue surrounded by his supporters

It was another beautiful day in gorgeous Forsyth Park where we got to see Phillip Phillips in concert!  We sang along, danced and enjoyed life.

5K: 28:55
10K: 57:36
10 miles: 1:32:53
Division: 187/1195
Gender: 1308/7327
Overall: 2709/10603
Avg pace: 9:20
Chip time: 2:02:26

My next half marathon is in 3 weeks at Space Coast.  Will I get under 2:00???

Chicago Marathon Recap 2014

I always wanted to run one of the big city marathons so when my cousin Erin moved to Chicago, it was the perfect time to make that happen.  I suggested Erin and her husband Alex run the marathon with me and what do you know, they signed up for it too!  2014 was the first year for the Chicago Marathon lottery and as luck would have it, all three of us won the lottery and registered to run 26.2 miles through the windy city!

After 20 weeks of training, with a slight interruption for influenza B, Mike and I were on our way to Chicago for the October 12th race and my 5th marathon.  We arrived Thursday afternoon so we had plenty of time to visit with Erin and Alex and see some of the city.

Walking along Lake Michigan

Relaxing our nerves at the ale house

On Saturday we visited the Expo for packet pickup and shopping.  This was a nice, big expo with lots of venders and fun pre-race activities.  Even Mike enjoyed the expo samples!

Marathon morning was finally here!  First time marathoners, Erin and Alex, were a little nervous.  I tried to give helpful tips to ease their nerves.  One tip was to use body glide in lots of places because races cause you to chafe in weird places you've never chafed in before.

The temperature was in the high 40s that morning but Erin and I stuck with our matching running tanks.  We kept warm before the start with throw-away jackets that I found at Goodwill.  It warmed up nicely to the mid 60s which was perfect running weather!  FYI - all throw-away clothes are collected and donated to local charities.

Alex, Erin, and Me

My fellow Suncoast Striders

Our corral started slightly after 8:00am.  I was a bit chilly at first without my jacket but warmed up by mile 1.  My goal was to finish around 4:30, ideally by 4:29:59, so I started off at a nice pace that I hoped I could maintain throughout my 26.2 miles.  I needed an average pace of 10:18 to finish under 4 hours 30 minutes.  With all the tall buildings and tunnel we ran though, my Garmin's GPS was all over the place.  I didn't have an accurate average pace so I just ran and did my best!

The streets of Chicago were filled with spectators cheering for runners.  I loved the huge cardboard heads on sticks.  With over 40,000 athletes passing by, that was a great way to get a specific runner's attention.  The hand made signs were funny and made me smile. Especially the one that read "Smile if you just peed a little".  The energy in each of Chicago's neighborhoods was electric!  This was a perfect first marathon for Erin and Alex (and maybe their only according to Alex).

Around mile 7, I passed a young, fit looking, man lying in the middle of the race course receiving CPR by paramedics.  I thought about him throughout the rest of the race hoping he was ok.*

By mile 10 I thought, why am I doing this...I don't like the marathon distance...this should be my last marathon.  That was an early wall for me...usually I don't feel that way until mile 17-18.  I remembered my body was tired from three nights of not sleeping in my own bed.  I was in Chicago, maybe running my last marathon, so I made the best of it!

After that, I ignored the signs, tuned out the people and focused on the blue marathon course line...which I didn't notice until halfway through the race.  I also watched the road for uneven pavement and manholes that weren't flush with the road as I felt my legs get heavy.

In the last couple of miles, I really thought I might pass out.  I felt overheated, my fingers were tingling and my head was out of it.  I stopped for Gatorade and a short walk before hurdling the bridge on the last piece of the course. I ran in place on that mile 26 bridge.  There was no sprint in me at the end.  I felt like I might fall over at any moment.  My legs had never hurt so bad in my life.  But through it all, I finished my 5th marathon with a new PR!

I met my goal of around 4:30, coming in at 4:34:15.  My Garmin had me over 26.2 miles probably because I didn't stick close to the blue line in the first half.

Erin and Alex also met their goals coming in at 5:05 and 3:56 respectively.

I relaxed on the grass enjoying the gorgeous weather and sunshine.  I replaced my running shoes with my beloved flip-flops, noting that I didn't have a single blister on my feet. I met up with some running buddies and enjoyed our victories over the Chicago Marathon!

Place Gender: 7995/18402
Place Age Group: 1157/2641
Place Overall: 22215/40598
Avg Pace: 10:27 min/mile
Finish Time: 04:34:15

That's a new PR for me!!  I shaved off over 15 minutes from my previous PR at A1A Marathon.  Another plus, no areas chafed and zero blisters on my feet!

*The man I saw receiving CPR on the course was 29 and ok after a hospital visit.

Busy Subbing Art & Chicago Marathon

My poor blog has been neglected!  I have a long-term job subbing Art at our local elementary school.  It's only three days a week but it keeps me busy and on my toes.  My other two days are filled with fun stuff like laundry, cleaning and grocery shopping.  I'm in this Art position until the job is filled.  The job posting is up week after week but no one's biting.  I don't have an Art degree but I'm a quick learner and very good at following directions.  The full-time Art teacher is helping me out with lesson plans and project ideas.  One art aspect I'm not good at is free hand drawing.  When I got this position, my youngest sister jokingly said "just don't draw any animals for the kids".  She remembers my lovely animals from our family Pictionary games.  All of my animals look the same except for their tails and ears....that's how you know if it's a pig, cat, or dog.

Pictionary is a game of speed, people!  Speed!  There's no time for artsy animals.  I won a lot of Pictionary games with those animals.

I'm getting into the groove of this Art job and having fun with the kids and projects.  Here are two project examples that I made for my students.  We are working on lines.  I impressed myself and my 5th grade son!

The CHICAGO MARATHON is in 5 days!!  My training is complete...even though I missed 3 weeks of running and my 20 miler because of influenza B.  I'm ready to take on the windy city and complete my 5th marathon!  My cousin Erin and her husband Alex are joining me in this crazy adventure.  It's their first marathon.  Look for a full post-race recap soon.

Winter has Hope #DolphinTale2

As part of an exciting Dolphin Tale 2 weekend, my family and I visited the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, home of Winter the dolphin and star of Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2.  The Clearwater Marine Aquarium's CEO, David Yates, explained the CMA's mission to rescue, rehabilitate and, when possible, release injured animals back to their environment.  David told us about the amazing story of a baby dolphin's rescue which coincidentally happened during the evening wrap party for Dolphin Tale.  Many of the cast and crew were there to witness baby Hope being carried to the pool where CMA staff was waiting to care for her.  Harry Connick, Jr. recalls, "Everybody was oohing and aahing because she was just so adorable, never thinking that what we were watching would, in time, prompt a completely new storyline that would bring us back together."

My boys loved seeing Winter and Hope playing together but they weren't the only rescued animals at the CMA.  They also had sea turtles, otters, rays and pelicans.  All of these animals have been rescued and rehabilitated but can't be released back into the wild.

In Dolphin Tale 2, Sawyer, played by Nathan Gamble, and Hazel, played by Cozi Zuehlsdorff, have grown up.  No longer young kids, they gained more independence and responsibilities and are faced with making some tough decisions.  Harry Connick, Jr. is back as Dr. Clay Haskett and Hazel's father.  He also adjusts to having a teenage daughter who wants to make her own decisions as part of the CMA team in Dolphin Tale 2.

 Both Dolphin Tale movies show perseverance against impossible odds.  I was amazed at how much Winter, a dolphin without a tale, has touched so many lives of those living with disabilities. Bethany Hamilton had a role in Dolphin Tale 2.  My boys knew right away that she was the surfer who survived a shark attack because we'd seen Soul Surfer and Bethany's incredible story of survival.  It's heartwarming that Winter and Hope are a huge inspiration to so many!

Dolphin Tale 2 is in theaters on September 12!  Find out more about Dolphin Tale 2 on Facebook or Twitter.  Visit Winter and Hope at the CMA in Clearwater, FL.

Disclaimer: My family and I were granted entry to the CMA and a showing of Dolphin Tale 2 as part of the Tampa Bay Bloggers.  All opinions are my own.

Summer of Rum Festival Preview

The 2014 Summer of Rum Festival is this weekend on Saturday, August 16 from 2:00pm - 11:00pm at The Cuban Club in Ybor City.

How to Fest:

VIP Experience $95 advance/$125 at the door if available - The VIP Rum Experience gives you access to the VIP Tent at the main patio and a bonus 1 Rum Tasting Pass (see details below). Enjoy UNLIMITED RUM DRINKS in the VIP Tent from the VIP bar. The VIP Tent will feature prime views to the main stage, decorated tent/shade area, bars to serve VIP ticket holders only, some seating area, and a cooled air-mist system (NOT air conditioning). Go inside the Cuban Club to cool off and enjoy the Island Rum Tasting Party!

As a bonus, the VIP Rum Experience will include 1 Rum Tasting Pass good for 5 tastes at the Island Rum Tasting. Includes a collectible Summer of Rum Shot Glass. Additional Rum Tasting Pass can be purchased. Rum tasting is open from 2pm to 6pm ONLY! No refunds/cash value for unused passes.

General Admission $20 advance/$25 at the door if available - GA Admission gives you access to the Summer of Rum with all day re-entry privileges. Enjoy live entertainment on our main-stage, each of the unique rum zones, rum shacks, games, and more while you sip on delicious rum drinks. Once inside, rum drinks are available for purchase.

This year's entertainment includes Jimmy Stowe and the Stowaways, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, I-Resolution, UNRB, Impulse World Beat, and Jahfari Band.

For more information visit Summer of Rum or on Facebook.

Leave a comment here or on Chrissy is Loving Life if you want to win a pair of GA tickets for the Summer of Rum Festival on Aug 16th.

Running Ramblings and Race Ragz Review

Only 10 weeks until the Chicago Marathon!  I'm really excited about this race.  Not only do I get to visit my cousin Erin and her hubby Alex, but I'm hoping to PR in the cooler Chicago weather after training in the Florida heat.  My current marathon PR is 4:49 from the A1A Marathon. I'm aiming for closer to a 4:30 finish time in Chicago.

Here are my runs and average paces for the second half of July.  To finish a marathon in 4:30, my average pace needs to be 10:18 for the entire 26.2 miles. 

Date	Miles	Duration	Avg Pace	Type/Run
7/26/2014	14	2:29:04	10:38	long
7/24/2014	6	0:55:11	9:11	tempo
7/22/2014	5.02	0:46:10	9:12	intervals
7/19/2014	12	2:00:40	10:03	long
7/15/2014	5	0:45:17	9:02	tempo
7/12/2014	15.2	2:31:16	9:57	long

Saturday's 14 mile run was tough because I didn't eat enough carbs on Friday. I realized that about half way through the run when I was starving and already running out of steam. Mental note for later.

On Thursday's tempo run, I ran in my new Race Ragz custom made dry fit shirt. I received lots of compliments.  Everyone loved my new shirt with our running group's logo on front! Suncoast Striders Rule!

After 6 very humid and sweaty miles

My Race Ragz offers custom made dry performance shirts made for runners by runners.  I created my one of a kind personalized performance shirt using my own logo on the front and one of Race Ragz's pre-loaded images on the back.  They have 1000+ pre-loaded images/sayings for you to use on your custom shirt.

I ordered the women's synergy race tank in size medium.  It fit true to size.  This shirt was a thin, soft dry fit material.  It was very comfortable to run in with no chaffing issues after 6 miles.  It also did not ride up on my hips as I ran...always a plus for me!  The ordering process was very easy including uploading my own image for the front of my shirt.  I recommend My Race Ragz for any custom running shirt needs.

Now one lucky reader gets to win their own Race Ragz custom running shirt (up to $46 value)!  Enter below through Rafflecopter. Contest ends Aug 6, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was given a $46 credit to create and order my own shirt from My Race Ragz.  All opinions are my own.

Run for Your Lives!

After running the Disney Marathon in January, the A1A Marathon in February and a couple of halves, I needed a little break from running.  I think for me, I also needed a break from the early mornings...I am not a morning person.  I was lazy and enjoyed it!  But eventually, I missed the running and my running buddies.

It's strange how quickly I lost my speed (which is relative to me and not runners that are actually fast) and amazing how quickly I regained that speed.

I started running regularly again at the end of April.  For me that consisted of 2-3 days a week.  Here are my Garmin stats from dailymile over the past couple of months.

Date	Miles	Duration	Pace
7/10/2014	6.02	0:55:44	9:15
7/9/2014	6	0:46:37	9:19
7/6/2014	10.01	1:49:37	10:57
7/3/2014	5	0:48:38	9:43
6/28/2014	12	2:01:55	10:09
6/26/2014	6	0:56:16	9:22
6/21/2014	10	1:38:39	9:51
6/19/2014	4.75	0:45:33	9:35
6/17/2014	3.2	0:33:30	10:27
6/14/2014	10.01	1:50:44	11:04
6/5/2014	4.37	0:40:54	9:21
5/31/2014	10	1:41:48	10:10
5/29/2014	5.31	0:54:23	10:14
5/24/2014	8.05	1:27:57	10:55
5/22/2014	5.5	0:50:32	9:11
5/20/2014	2.02	0:27:15	13:30
5/20/2014	1.01	0:11:02	10:56
5/17/2014	8.25	1:21:36	9:53
5/13/2014	3.02	0:33:31	11:05
5/10/2014	6	0:57:33	9:35
5/8/2014	5.22	0:49:35	9:29
4/26/2014	5	0:51:55	10:22
4/24/2014	3.36	0:33:29	9:57
4/19/2014	5.2	0:54:54	10:33

I'm happy with how my 5.5 - 6 mile tempo run pace improved nicely.  Even my longer run pace has improved.  My regular running routine is intervals on Tuesdays, tempo run on Thursdays and long run on Saturdays.

I'm back into training mode with LONG runs to prepare for the Chicago Marathon in October (my 5th marathon). After that, I'm running the Rock-N-Roll Savannah Half Marathon in early November and the Space Coast Half Marathon in late November.  My goal is for a half marathon PR under 2 hours. My current half PR is 2:06.

All of this summer training in the hot and humid Florida weather has got to make me faster when the cooler weather hits in fall....or for the zombie apocalypse (my hubby and I are watching The Walking Dead Marathon that was on AMC).

Are you training for any races, new PR goals, or zombie apocalypse?