Saturday morning my alarm went off at 4am, and I got up without hitting the snooze to get ready and be out the door by 4:40 to head to Bill's and then head to Merle Hay where our bus would take us to Saylorville lake and drop us off at the dam to only run back to another dam in the downtown area...
(See those buildings on the horizon?? That's where we're running to...)
Last week I mentioned that I had some super secret goals that I was hoping to accomplish with this race. Sadly, I did not accomplish either of them. I wanted to run the entire time, and I wanted to finish within 2:30, which would be a 12:00 minute pace.
I would post my splits, but Runkeeper went pretty haywire for the last half and the app thinks I ran over 13 miles (the race was 12.4) so my splits are pretty inaccurate - perhaps it is time for a Garmin?? Here are my first 6 miles, which look like they're right.
Mile 1 - 10:46
Mile 2 - 10:27
Mile 3 - 11:11
Mile 4 - 11:36
Mile 5 - 12:11
Mile 6 - 12:29
I know I got started too fast. I have never held a pace in the ten minute range, and although I could feel myself going too fast, I just couldn't make myself slow down. Maybe this is why I hit a wall at mile 9-10 and just did not want to run anymore??
My final time was 2:39, 9 minutes slower than what I was hoping for, but it was an 11 minute PR from last year. So, success! Although I did not run 100% of this race, I did run for about 90%, which is much better than what I did last year.
(Bill and I right before heading up to the dam and beginning the race)
Overall, it was a good race. I had fun, I ran a lot and beat my time from last year. I think that if I am this concerned with time, I need to start working on that. I have not worked on speed at all, so I think I need to start figuring out what my goals really are now, since they have obviously changed a little bit from last year!
Next up for me is a half marathon with See-Us Run Des Moines and then probably the Des Moines Half Marathon in October. Other than long distance races, I am doing a 5k next weekend at the zoo! Can't wait for that :)
10 comments:
Great job! An 11 minute PR is nothing to scoff at!
Yay, awesome job! That's a HUGE PR :)
that's awesome!
I think you did awesome! An 11 minute PR is huge - that's almost a minute per mile which is a great improvement!
I do highly recommend that you get a Garmin if you plan to stick with running. I know they are expensive but if you think of how often you use it, it's worth the money (IMO). I think I have had mine for 4 years now! So they do last a long time!
Congrats on beating your PR!! That's amazing in itself. You are brave to run the amount of miles you are...so be proud of that. Me? I'm sticking with the 5k's for now. But maybe one of these days I'll take on more....
Congrats Amber! You really have come so far from the PE class you took. Such an awesome job!
Great job! You did really well. Congrats on your PR. So...you pulled the classic blunder and started out too fast. That is such an easy mistake to make! I do it all the time. I think it is good to add "tempo" runs to your weekly training, where you run a one mile warm up, then try to hold a 10k pace for 20 - 30 mins, then do a one mile cool down. It will not only get you faster, because you will be running a little faster than comfortable for the 20 - 30 minute portion, but you will also practice holding the same pace for that period, which makes you more aware.
As Lisa said as well, a Garmin may be the next step. When I run half marathons, I put my Garmin on the pace mode, and I have a goal pace that I stay at. With the Garmin, it's easy to look at it a lot to be sure that you keep on track.
Awesome job, Amber!
I used Runkeeper for my half marathon and it was WAY off. Like a full mile off. I used my Garmin for Broad Street and it was spot on. I love it!
Congrats on another long distance race! xo
Congrats!!!!
kudos to YOU!! that is amazing. that's on my bucket list.
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