My official half marathon time was 2 hours, 40 minutes and 49 seconds (a 12:17 pace for those of you keeping track). I have 2 questions: 1) How many half marathons must I run before I can call myself a half marathoner? and 2) How many half marathons must I run before I can put a 13.1 sticker on my car?
Monday, January 9, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
13.1
Today my friend Sam and I ran the Southern California Half Marathon, 13.1 miles. We finished in 2 hours and 43 minutes. The first 13 miles were a breeze, but that last tenth was tricky. Har har.
We had planned to walk a minute after every mile, as we had done in our training runs. But as we approached the starting line prior to the race, Sam suggested we take fewer walk breaks and I was game to try. We ended up running nearly the entire way, stopping only for water and to eat our gel packs. I had heard that once you run a certain distance, if you stop, it becomes very difficult to start up again. This is true, and perhaps the only reason we ran all 13.1 miles.
Miles 1 through 5 were quite easy, but miles 6 through 8 were more difficult. Even though I knew the entire time that we had 13 miles to cover, this fact didn't really set in until about the 6th mile. Mile 9 was more manageable, if only because it's easier to wrap your head around having less than 5 miles left to run. At mile 10, Sam and I psyched ourselves up by pointing out we had only 3.1 miles left, or a 5K. When you train for a half marathon (and anything longer I'm sure), running 3 miles is a piece of cake. Except when you've already run 10 miles.
At mile 11, Sam pointed out that this was the farthest I'd ever run which was an exciting distraction to think about (our longest training run was 10 miles). Mile 12 was exciting mainly because it meant the finish line was so close and we were almost done. We passed the 13th mile marker, and adrenaline kicked in as we sprinted the last tenth to the finish line (or at least that's how it felt).
Crossing the finish line and meeting Drew was great. The race was hard, but it was fun and I really would do it again. For me, it was not as mentally difficult as I thought it could be. I've heard that it's not uncommon for runners to hit a wall in mile 9 of a half marathon (or mile 20 or so in a marathon) when it becomes very, very difficult to continue. Fortunately, we didn't experience any mental challenges. As far as physically difficult, it's about what I'd anticipated. I knew it would hurt, but I wasn't sure how much. I was surprised that I didn't feel tired during the race, or out of breath. There was no huffing and puffing; Sam and I easily talked throughout the race. However, even though we both commented that our lungs felt strong and that we had good stamina, around mile 8 or 9, various body parts started to get tired and ache. After we crossed the finish line, I could barely walk.
We had planned to walk a minute after every mile, as we had done in our training runs. But as we approached the starting line prior to the race, Sam suggested we take fewer walk breaks and I was game to try. We ended up running nearly the entire way, stopping only for water and to eat our gel packs. I had heard that once you run a certain distance, if you stop, it becomes very difficult to start up again. This is true, and perhaps the only reason we ran all 13.1 miles.
Miles 1 through 5 were quite easy, but miles 6 through 8 were more difficult. Even though I knew the entire time that we had 13 miles to cover, this fact didn't really set in until about the 6th mile. Mile 9 was more manageable, if only because it's easier to wrap your head around having less than 5 miles left to run. At mile 10, Sam and I psyched ourselves up by pointing out we had only 3.1 miles left, or a 5K. When you train for a half marathon (and anything longer I'm sure), running 3 miles is a piece of cake. Except when you've already run 10 miles.
At mile 11, Sam pointed out that this was the farthest I'd ever run which was an exciting distraction to think about (our longest training run was 10 miles). Mile 12 was exciting mainly because it meant the finish line was so close and we were almost done. We passed the 13th mile marker, and adrenaline kicked in as we sprinted the last tenth to the finish line (or at least that's how it felt).
Crossing the finish line and meeting Drew was great. The race was hard, but it was fun and I really would do it again. For me, it was not as mentally difficult as I thought it could be. I've heard that it's not uncommon for runners to hit a wall in mile 9 of a half marathon (or mile 20 or so in a marathon) when it becomes very, very difficult to continue. Fortunately, we didn't experience any mental challenges. As far as physically difficult, it's about what I'd anticipated. I knew it would hurt, but I wasn't sure how much. I was surprised that I didn't feel tired during the race, or out of breath. There was no huffing and puffing; Sam and I easily talked throughout the race. However, even though we both commented that our lungs felt strong and that we had good stamina, around mile 8 or 9, various body parts started to get tired and ache. After we crossed the finish line, I could barely walk.
All in all, it was a great experience. Most of the volunteers were students from an area high school, and their enthusiasm was contagious. Running can be a solitary sport, but it's days like this when I'm reminded that it doesn't have to be. I'm fortunate to have a running buddy and it's a major reason why I even challenged myself to a half marathon. But I'm certainly glad I did!Tuesday, December 6, 2011
just beet it
When Drew and I acquired our garden plot last spring, one of the first things my family (somewhat enviously) said was that we could garden year round. Yes, yes, I suppose that's possible. Except that with the arrival of fall also comes the start of a new school year and shorter days, it gets more difficult to get out to the garden. Over the course of that past few months, we have been removing tomato and pepper plants, sometimes one by one, after they've given us everything they've got. And every weekend, it's the same: we keep saying we're going to get out to the garden to compost and plant winter crops. And then the weekend comes, and we're busy working, or grading, or grocery shopping, or running, or getting in some much needed relaxing.
Anyway, the garden plot is almost bare. We have just one tomato plant and a sage plant. Surprisingly, the tomato plant is still bearing fruit. Home grown tomatoes in December? Don't hate us.
I planted beets sometime during the summer, unaware that these are a cool weather crop. Around September, their leaves began to poke out of the ground, and not at all in the neat little rows in which they were planted. They appeared in the most random places, as if I'd been drunk when I'd planted them (for the record, I wasn't).
I went out to pick the beets yesterday, but the giant leaves deceived me. There were pretty much no beets, save for a very tiny one.
Anyway, the garden plot is almost bare. We have just one tomato plant and a sage plant. Surprisingly, the tomato plant is still bearing fruit. Home grown tomatoes in December? Don't hate us.
I planted beets sometime during the summer, unaware that these are a cool weather crop. Around September, their leaves began to poke out of the ground, and not at all in the neat little rows in which they were planted. They appeared in the most random places, as if I'd been drunk when I'd planted them (for the record, I wasn't). I went out to pick the beets yesterday, but the giant leaves deceived me. There were pretty much no beets, save for a very tiny one.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
deck the halls!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Well, sort of. I think it was 80 degrees outside the day Drew and I did our holiday decorating.
Well, sort of. I think it was 80 degrees outside the day Drew and I did our holiday decorating.
Monday, November 28, 2011
turkey trot!
Drew and I headed down to Oceanside for Thanksgiving where we indulged in running and eating way too much stuffing. Or maybe it was me, not Drew, who ate too much stuffing.
This is my 6th Thanksgiving, and I recently realized that I probably don't have many more to celebrate in Oceanside. I will eventually graduate and move out of Southern California. Hopefully. But I will no doubt miss spending Thanksgiving with the Oceanside family. It's always a riot. It's loud and everyone is talking, sometimes above one another. The only time people aren't talking is about the first 10 seconds after we've served our food and start eating. It's a lot of fun. Meals are always served family style, and sometimes there are so many people that the dinner table extends into the entryway (like it did for my first Thanksgiving there). Instead of passing around dishes of food, you pass around your plate.
Our Thanksgiving began with the Turkey Trot. When I began running a little over 2 months ago, I was run/walking miles at a 15 minute pace. My only goal was to run the entire Turkey Trot, no matter how slow. Drew and I ran the entire 3.1 miles together, separating only to dodge walkers. The race was very flat and went pretty well. The last stretch was along the ocean, and people came out of their beach houses to cheer us on. There was a girl playing her violin and a group of guys blasting music. My cousin Mike was there to greet us at the finish line.
Near the finish line, Drew graciously slowed down to take my picture crossing the finish line.
My official time was 31:15, or about a 10 minute mile. Drew finished one second later. Here is the 'after' picture:
This is my 6th Thanksgiving, and I recently realized that I probably don't have many more to celebrate in Oceanside. I will eventually graduate and move out of Southern California. Hopefully. But I will no doubt miss spending Thanksgiving with the Oceanside family. It's always a riot. It's loud and everyone is talking, sometimes above one another. The only time people aren't talking is about the first 10 seconds after we've served our food and start eating. It's a lot of fun. Meals are always served family style, and sometimes there are so many people that the dinner table extends into the entryway (like it did for my first Thanksgiving there). Instead of passing around dishes of food, you pass around your plate.
Our Thanksgiving began with the Turkey Trot. When I began running a little over 2 months ago, I was run/walking miles at a 15 minute pace. My only goal was to run the entire Turkey Trot, no matter how slow. Drew and I ran the entire 3.1 miles together, separating only to dodge walkers. The race was very flat and went pretty well. The last stretch was along the ocean, and people came out of their beach houses to cheer us on. There was a girl playing her violin and a group of guys blasting music. My cousin Mike was there to greet us at the finish line.
Near the finish line, Drew graciously slowed down to take my picture crossing the finish line.
My official time was 31:15, or about a 10 minute mile. Drew finished one second later. Here is the 'after' picture: 
The rest of the day was dedicated to relaxing, football, wii, and pecan pie.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
october
It's not October anymore, but it was a busy month that deserves a recap. For starters, I finally left prospectus purgatory. Yes, it's true, I finally got to defend my prospectus and begin dissertation research. The defense wasn't as bad as I'd anticipated and certainly not as dreadful as I thought it would be.
I also signed up for a half marathon. I forked over $60, so there is no turning back now. Sam and I did a 5 mile run a week ago and a 6 mile run last Sunday, which is the longest that I've ever run in my life. Next Sunday, we are running 7 miles, which is a bit difficult to wrap my head around, but I'm sure we will survive.
Last weekend, we went to a fancy running store, which proved to be a dangerous place to be if you've just started running and still think it's fun. Not only did I become a VIP member of said running store, but I bought a hydration pack, some energy gels, and socks. I confess that these socks were $18 for a 3 pack. On sale. But they're supposed to prevent blisters, so how could I resist?
I also signed up for a half marathon. I forked over $60, so there is no turning back now. Sam and I did a 5 mile run a week ago and a 6 mile run last Sunday, which is the longest that I've ever run in my life. Next Sunday, we are running 7 miles, which is a bit difficult to wrap my head around, but I'm sure we will survive.
Last weekend, we went to a fancy running store, which proved to be a dangerous place to be if you've just started running and still think it's fun. Not only did I become a VIP member of said running store, but I bought a hydration pack, some energy gels, and socks. I confess that these socks were $18 for a 3 pack. On sale. But they're supposed to prevent blisters, so how could I resist?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
a half marathon
This is the story about how I agreed to run a half marathon in January. It started about a week ago. As you may recall, I'm running a 5K on Thanksgiving Day, a race appropriately called the Turkey Trot. My friend Sam and I run a couple times a week, and we ran our first 4 miler a week and a half ago. And something magical happened. It actually felt pretty good. I didn't feel like I was going to die, which is something I usually feel at some point during the first mile.
So here's what happens when you run 4 miles and feel exhilarated: you agree to run a half marathon. I knew Sam was planning to run a half in January, but I hadn't given much thought to doing it myself until recently. Here was my line of thought: we're training buddies, so if she's going to train for a half and we continue to run together, well then, shouldn't I also do the half? You might be thinking: If Sam jumps off a cliff, will I blindly follow? The answer is of course not, but I should mention right now that she's already registered for the Big Sur Marathon, which is sometime at the end of April or early May. I'm not even going to think about what this could mean for me.
And so I have verbally committed to running the half marathon in January. I even announced it on facebook. But I haven't ponied up the $50 for the registration fee. Other magical things have happened from running. For starters, seemingly overnight, we shaved a minute off our mile time. Instead of 13 minutes miles, we're now running 12 minute miles. How did that happen? I have no idea, but I'll take it.
So here's what happens when you run 4 miles and feel exhilarated: you agree to run a half marathon. I knew Sam was planning to run a half in January, but I hadn't given much thought to doing it myself until recently. Here was my line of thought: we're training buddies, so if she's going to train for a half and we continue to run together, well then, shouldn't I also do the half? You might be thinking: If Sam jumps off a cliff, will I blindly follow? The answer is of course not, but I should mention right now that she's already registered for the Big Sur Marathon, which is sometime at the end of April or early May. I'm not even going to think about what this could mean for me.
And so I have verbally committed to running the half marathon in January. I even announced it on facebook. But I haven't ponied up the $50 for the registration fee. Other magical things have happened from running. For starters, seemingly overnight, we shaved a minute off our mile time. Instead of 13 minutes miles, we're now running 12 minute miles. How did that happen? I have no idea, but I'll take it.
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