2011 Races in Review

Well, I guess it's that time to look back at how things went this year.  After studious calculations (thanks DailyMile!), I can say I ran at least 307 miles this year.  :-)  Not bad.  Not great, but not bad.  My best month was January 2011 when training for Disney's Princess Half Marathon really kicked into gear (57 miles).  My worst months were March and April (5 miles each).  LOL!  At least I did something those months!

The big accomplishment was running my first and second half marathons!  I never thought I could do it!  I didn't think I could run a 5k, let alone a half marathon.  Who knew I was capable of it?  Besides my friends?  ;-)

I finished in 3:21:11.  Honestly, my goal was to finish.  I had no aspirations of a fast time or anything.  I just wanted to finish.  And I did!  Though I will tell you, anything after mile 10 was torture!  All I could think of was "isn't this OVER yet???"  But, I ran the whole thing and I crossed the finish line!  There isn't much better than that!

March found us in Baltimore for the Kelly St. Patrick's Day 5k.  I love this race!  Maybe because I start at the back and the two coolest things happen at the very beginning of the race: the race actually kicks off the St. Patrick's Day parade so there are TONS of people there cheering you on as you start.  It's a fabulous feeling! The second is the race starts on the top of a hill and as you descend the hill you see all the people in front of you...all wearing green.  It is truly an amazing sight!  I did well on this one this year.  A sub-40 minute 5k!!!  I was very pleased with a 39:36 time.  Woohoo!

Afterwards, we went to the James Joyce Tavern with our friend Ada who also ran and her friends from the Baltimore Dragon Boat Club.  They are such great people!  We all had a fabulous afternoon and tons of people from the race were there, so it was almost like a post-race party!

May saw us try a new race, the Preakness 5k in Maryland.  It looked like such a great idea - run around the track the horses run.  It was a great idea until you actually ran on the sand.  Then it was one of the dumbest things I've ever done.  LOL!  But, I will say, they did a fabulous job of keeping the theme.  Each runner received a bib with a racing horse name:

We started the race running through the gates the horses like up in and start.  I thought that was cool.  It was a bit congested, but it was cool.

We ran the course, which they said they made easier to run on.  Bah!  It was like running at the beach in the sand before the wet sand.  Not fun at all!

But, overall, one of those races that you say that was a neat experience.  I'm not sure I would do it again.  The sand really messed with me.  It was a flat course, I will give it that.  And the shirts were spiffy, plus you had the option of a shirt or a fleece blanket.  We went shirts each, but decided to buy a blanket because they were pretty cool.  :-)

June found me trying a duathlon and failing miserably.  I tried, but I just wasn't prepared for it.  I am slightly disappointed and may try another to redeem myself, but I'm not sure.  It was an interesting experience, but one that has left some scars.

The second half of June found me back in Baltimore for my third Baltimore Women's Classic.  This was my very first 5k ever and I like coming back to this race.  They have a nice shirt, a great goody bag, and is the 2nd largest women's only race in the country.  If you are in the area, I highly recommend this race to any women of any athletic ability.  It's just an all-around great race.

July found us up in Harrisburg for the Harrisburg Mile.  It's a one mile run down Front Street that we've done several times and enjoyed.  This year I was not happy.  I hadn't run since the Women's Classic and didn't have the best run, but they had switched the clock over before I finished for the next heat and I had no idea how long it took me.  This is the first time in all the year's I've run it that that's happened.  I was not happy at all.  Actually, I was pretty ticked.  I'm not sure if I will do it again unless I can come in under 10 minutes and the chances of that happening....

Hubby, myself, and our friend Jim

And then there is a race drought until November.  LOL!  I was so concerned with getting my long runs in that I didn't want to run any short runs and mess that up.  So, from July to November was a barren waste land of races.

Then we come to November!  Time for my second half marathon - the Philadelphia Half Marathon.  I was rocking this race from miles 1 through 9.  The time was flying by and each mile marker was a shock at how fast they were coming.  Then I hit mile 9 and the awful, awful hill that existed between mile 9 and 10.  I got myself back at it for miles 10 and 11, but I hit the wall HARD at mile 12.  I just wanted it to be over.  And of course it wasn't.  Bah!  But, I got through it and finished the entire race!  And I PRed, which isn't half bad - 3:16:43.  :-) 

And my last run of 2011 happened last weekend at the Celtic Solstice 5 Miler in Baltimore.  It was a rough course, a good portion of it uphill, but it made for a feeling of accomplishment at the end.  Hubby told me it was part of the Dreaded Druid Hills course and when he said that I decided I didn't need to do that race.  LOL!  I PRed on this race, which made me very happy - 1:05:45.  They had a great post-race party with mulled wassail wine and amazing cookies!  What a way to wrap up a race.  :-)  

So, not a bad 2011 on the racing front - ran my first two half marathons and set a 5 mile PR.  I enjoyed the new races we threw in there this year and going back to some races because they are just darn good!  I'm working on what to focus on in 2012.  There's so much I could throw out there as goals, but I want to make sure they are reasonable and attainable.  Nothing like setting yourself up for failure.  ;-)

I won't be able to do any New Year's races this year (though I would love to!), so if you are doing one, let me know how it goes! 

6 Month Review

Wow!  Can you believe it's July 1st already?  It seems like yesterday that it was freezing out and we were all wishing it was warmer.  Now it's warmer and I'm wishing it were colder.  LOL!  But, I'm a bigger fan of winter than summer.  Blasphemy I know.  ;-)

Thought I would do a big recap rather than just my typical weekly one.  It's been enlightening seeing where I am compared to the beginning of the year.  Some of it good, some of it kinda sad actually...

Exercise

I kinda impressed with myself on this front.  I've been using Daily Mile to record my miles this year.  I used it last year too, but I know I didn't do a great job on getting every workout in.  This year, I've been much better at getting on.  I like seeing the monthly numbers.  :-)

Running - 147 miles
Biking - 183 miles

Not bad!  Now, remember I said I didn't record my workouts as religiously last year as I have this.  I went back to Daily Mile to see what I did between Jan. and June 2010 and I came up with 34.53 miles.  ROFLOL!  I guess I did better this year than last.  ;-)  And I did bike at all last year, so I sure beat that record!

Races

I hit the road running this year in the races category!  I've participated in 5 races so far this year.  Not too shabby.  I've done a half marathon, three 5ks, and a failure of a duathlon.

Disney Princess Half Marathon - February 27, 2011

3:21:11

 Hubby and I at the St. Patrick's Day 5k - March 13, 2011

39:36

Yuengling Shamrock Marathon - March 20, 2011

Not my race, but hubby ran his very first marathon and I went to cheer lead and photograph!

 Preakness 5k - May 14, 2011

43:29

Keystone Warrior Duathlon (before disaster struck) - June 11, 2011

2:08:38

Baltimore Women's Classic 5k - June 26, 2011

42:02

Weight

Oddly enough, I've basically stayed the same since the beginning of the year.  The last record I have of my weight is right before Christmas and I'm the same as I was then.  Ugh.  Basically, this means I've been playing with about 6-7 pounds for 6 months.  I need to get my butt in gear to stay here and then go down.  I have lofty goals at this point.  6 months to lose about 30 pounds.  It's doable.  I've done it before.  But, this time it's the last 30 pounds.  Always the hardest mentally and physically.  

Job

Well, I started the year off employed, then not so much.  Then spent two months waiting to volunteer at either the State Museum of Pennsylvania or the Pennsylvania State Archives.  I had the chance to work the Civil War 150 trailer when it was in Harrisburg.  Which was pretty awesome!  Really enjoyed that.  Then, shortly afterwards, I interviewed with the Archives and started volunteering/interning about a month later.  

The Archives have been great!  So much more what I want to be doing with my life than anything I've done in the past (except when getting my MA).  I love basically everything I've been doing - researching, helping other people research, finding document locations, and cleaning historic documents.  And they have given me some amazing opportunities - learn to mend historic documents, behind-the-scenes tours of the Railroad Museum and the Cornwall Iron Furnace, a trip to the top of the Capitol Dome, and the chance to take the PHMC's Archives Without Tears 2-day seminar.  Absolutely incredible experience and fantastic people!  Loving it!!

Conclusion

So, not a bad first half to the year. I'm signed up for my second half marathon already.  I'm running the Philadelphia Half Marathon on November 20, 2011 (Best Time of Your Life).  Hubby ran the half in 2009 and 2010, but this year he's challenging himself to the full.  So, I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring and run the half.  Why not?  ;-)  We also have in mind quite a few 5ks, just have to decide which ones to go with.

I've got a weight loss goal of 30 pounds by the end of the year...when we go to Jamaica to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary!  So excited!  We'll be hitting Couples, an all-inclusive resort and renewing our vows on the beach.  Ahhh...

I have no delusions of getting a job by the end of the year, but I will continue on with the archives.  I really like it and since I'm not officially interning, I can stay on until whenever, which I plan on doing.  LOL!  I'm going to work my butt off getting experience and then hoping, praying, wishing a job somewhere opens up.  If you'd like to throw out some good vibes to the universe, I would be appreciative.

So, that's it.  The last 6 months in a quick review (with photos!).  Hopefully, the second half of the year is just as fun and exciting!!

Baltimore Women's Clasic 5k - Race Review

In 2009, I signed up for my very first 5k race.  I had no clue if I would finish it, but people I know swore I could run 3.1 miles...back to back.  So, I searched around and found a 5k that was local (Baltimore) and all women.  As much as I'm not a sexist person, I didn't want to worry about athletic men running past me, wondering what the heck I thought I was doing.  So, the Baltimore Women's Classic 5k was decided upon.  That year, I had the best 5k experience I think you could ask for for your first - cool weather, great organization, lots of people (which implied I wouldn't come in last), and surprises at the end (well, surprises to me because I apparently missed the part where they give you a rose as you cross the finish line)!  I swore then and there that I would run it each year I was able.


Last year, I ran it again.  I said I would!  :-)  The weather did not cooperate and it was the third 5k race I did in 8 days.  Nothing like those people who run 52 marathons a year or what have you, but for me three 5k races that close together was killer!  I improved my time over the year before, but it was the worst time of the three 5ks.

This past Sunday was the 36th annual Baltimore Women's Classic 5k.  Hubby and I hit town on Saturday (after he ran the Dreaded Druid Hill 10k!).  Each year we have booked ourselves a hotel room and chill out.  It's a nice little trip.  This year, we got to check out Dragon Boat racing at Tide Point thanks to our friend Ada who races with BCDB.  They are great people and we had a good time watching the final championship races.

We then headed off to check into our hotel and grab dinner.  We tend to use Hotwire and let them find us a place...which generally turns out to the the Sheraton.  LOL!  We checked in, washed up, changed, and headed off to B&O Brassiere, at the Hotel Monaco.  Love both of these places!  But especially the B&O Brassiere.  They have great food, awesome atmosphere, and an incredible chandelier!  I had a tasty dinner of pizza with arugula.  It's also the closest pizza to Italian pizza I've had here in the States!

  Then, we decided on dessert.  How can you go wrong with dessert?  Simply, you can't.  :-)   I had a lemon curd creme brulee with dehydrated blueberries and a molasses shortbread cookie.  It was better than the description!

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel because we were both really tired.  At least hubby had an excuse.  Me?  Not so much.  No idea why I was so tired...oh yea.  It might have something to do with the entirely carbby dinner I had!

But, we got up the next morning and got ready.  I had everything laid out the night before, so I was ready fairly quickly.  We walk to the starting line rather than drive.  It's a nice warm-up and I like walking through Baltimore.  The start was the same location as last year, Rash Field, which is on the other side of the harbor from the Aquarium.  Here's a shot of me pre-race with the Harbor in the background.

We hung out until close to the start, then headed over to the start line.  Then we parted, me to get in line and hubby to find a spot to get some photos.  The start of the race was broadcast on the local morning show, which I thought was pretty cool.  I was towards the back, which is where I belong.  ;-)  This year there were over 3,000 people running!  It's such a great race for that reason.

Can you see me?  I'm in orange.  heehee!

We got started, basically starting out the same way we went last year.  But, due to construction we had a new course.  And the first turn was murder!  I know others may not have felt the hill you faced as you turned the corner was hard, but I sure did!  I was anticipating the flatness of the previous two years and I was entertaining thoughts of having a PR.  When I saw the hill, I knew that was just a dumb idea.  LOL!  But, I got up it and kept going.  I tried to use the run/walk program, but my Garmin decided to be a butt and it didn't catch on until too late.  So, I took a couple walking breaks throughout the race.  I will say, I felt better running it with those walk breaks thrown in. 

We wandered through the neighborhoods near the Inner Harbor, but just off.  Then we turned a corner and you could see the Harbor!  It was good to see since I knew that meant I was pretty close to being done.  With the 1 minute walking breaks, I was feeling pretty good at this point.  As I came back onto Key Highway, hubby was there! 

From there, it wasn't far to the finish.  Headed off to the condo development next to Rash Field, which has a beautiful path on the water where you finish the race before hitting Rash Field for the finish line.  I came around the corner and caught sight of the clock and said out loud, "Ok, seriously?"  This is because I anticipated the time being earlier than it was.  The girl in front of me turned around and said the finish line isn't that far, you can do it!  I laughed since we were totally on different pages. 

I crossed the finish line and got in line.  The finishers shoot was a tad bit crowded this year.  But, as you go along, you get a cold, wet towel, a cold bottle of water, and a rose.  :-)  After coming out of the shoot, I headed off to see hubby and grab some grub!  Oh, and that time was my gun time, my chip time was 42:02, which is more than 2 minutes faster than last year!

I also had the chance after the race to meet a new friend.  She's running the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February 2012 and lives a little bit south of me.  We "met" on the Facebook page for the race and decided to meet up afterwards.  It was great meeting her and her family!  It was her first 5k and she kicked butt!  I'm looking forward to the fall/winter when we start our training runs together.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Baltimore Women's Classic 5k is a great race.  If you're in the area and are looking for a good one, I totally recommend it!  Great goody bag, great organization, great post-race area, and a fun location.  Thanks BWC for another fantastic race!